Enzo Maresca shares what he considers the ideal qualities in a number nine, outlining exactly what he seeks in a striker.

Enzo Maresca has described Nicolas Jackson as his ideal number nine, stating he’d be happy to have someone with a similar profile to the Senegalese striker.

 

With Chelsea preparing for a major squad overhaul this summer, the club is expected to offload up to seven or eight players to make room for new signings. Strengthening the squad in key areas—including striker, centre-back, and a right-footed winger—is a top priority for Maresca.

 

Jackson has been Chelsea’s main striker this season, scoring nine league goals. However, the lack of a backup option has been problematic, especially during his injury spell earlier this year. After missing two months following an injury against West Ham, he returned in the win over Tottenham.

 

Maresca praised Jackson, saying, “My perfect number nine is exactly Nico Jackson. If we can get a copy of Nico, that’s fine. He makes us a better team, and he’s exactly the type of striker we need.”

 

While Jackson has improved, Chelsea are still considering other options to offer variety in attack. Names like Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko have been linked, and bringing in another forward could provide competition and help Jackson develop further.

 

With two games on the bench recently, Jackson is likely to return to the starting lineup against Ipswich on Sunday—potentially a good opportunity for him to open his 2025 goal tally.