Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda believes Nicolas Jackson can follow in the footsteps of Didier Drogba.

Speaking to Coin Poker, Malouda said that there are similarities between the two players but Jackson needs to begin winning silverware if he wants to be mentioned in the same breath as the club legend:

“The difference is the trophies. If Jackson can win some major trophies with the club, then we can start talking about Jackson and Drogba in the same sentence. Everything is possible for Nicolas. Remember, when Didier joined Chelsea, everyone was questioning him, that was the story of his career.”

“Jackson needs to develop his game to a level where he is consistently making the difference. He needs to become a consistent goal scorer for the club. I would love Nicolas Jackson to play an integral role in a Chelsea team that wins a trophy. The challenge is for him to write his own history. He needs to be himself, we shouldn’t compare him to Didier Drogba or anyone else.”

Jackson and Drogba have had strikingly similar starts to their Chelsea careers

If you look at the pair’s first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, there isn’t much to split them. Drogba bagged 16 goals in 41 appearances after moving from Marseille in 2004. Jackson, meanwhile, scored 17 in 44 games.

Drogba actually found the back of the net 16 times in his second year too (as well as providing 16 assists), but Jackson could eclipse those numbers if he continues scoring at the same rate.

The Senegalese international’s goal against Liverpool was his 5th of the season in all competitions, having played 9 matches in total.

Will Chelsea sign another striker in January?

After failing to secure the signature of Victor Osimhen on deadline day back in August, there has been an assumption that the Blues will go back into the market for a new No.9 when the transfer window reopens.

A move for Osimhen could be revived, while the club are reportedly still in contact with the agents of Aston Villa player Jhon Duran. However, Jackson is making a case for himself to stay as the go-to man.

Find out who is in Chelsea’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here