Bayern's Nicolas Jackson to face Chelsea in Champions League opener

Nicolas Jackson will face his parent club Chelsea for the first time as a Bayern Munich player on Wednesday 17 September when the Bundesliga champions host the Blues in the opening round of the Champions League, a match that has crystallised lingering questions over his future. Jackson joined Bayern on a seasonlong loan from Chelsea in the summer and, according to his agent and multiple reports, does not want to return to Stamford Bridge when the loan ends.

The terms of the deal have been reported with varying detail. Some accounts say Bayern paid a loan fee and agreed an obligation to buy if Jackson reaches a set number of appearances, with the reported purchase figure ranging from about 56 million to 70 million euros. One senior Bayern figure was reported joking that Jackson would need to play 40 games to trigger a permanent transfer. Club statements and media reports differ on the precise numbers and triggers, but several outlets say Bayern would still consider a permanent move if the striker impresses even without meeting any appearance threshold.

Jackson’s agent made clear the player’s stance in comments to the media, saying returning to Chelsea was "absolutely not" under...