Thanks for everything and - goodbye!

It felt inevitable almost from the moment he arrived at Bayern Munich. Once Uli Hoeness spoke as openly as he did, it was only a matter of time before someone from the club's sporting hierarchy made it official.

That confirmation finally came on Saturday, after Bayern's dramatic 4-3 comeback win away to Mainz 05.

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Sporting director Max Eberl stepped in front of the cameras and put an end to the Nicolas Jackson saga:

"No, we will definitely not activate the option to buy Nicolas Jackson," Eberl told ZDF, offering no further details.

For context, Bayern signed the Senegal international from Chelsea just two days before the transfer window closed, primarily as backup for Harry Kane. The agreement included a clause that would make the transfer permanent if Jackson started 40 matches. At the same time, Bayern also retained the option to buy him outright until the end of June - both scenarios set at a €65 million fee.

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Jackson, for his part, did little wrong. He kept his head down, trained hard, and contributed when called upon - registering 10 goals and four assists in 29 appearances. But even after his first few outings, it became clear he wasn't quite what Bayern needed. Or more precisely, what he offered didn't justify the price tag.

Despite regular praise from head coach Vincent Kompany, Jackson never truly looked comfortable within the system. And in truth, paying €65 million for a player expected to serve primarily as Kane's understudy never made much sense.

In recent weeks, Bayern have evidently shifted their transfer strategy. Rather than pursuing a traditional No. 9 as Kane's backup, the club is now targeting a more versatile attacking option, someone capable of covering multiple roles across the front line. That's why Anthony Gordon has emerged as a key target.

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There had been speculation that Bayern's interest in Gordon was linked to uncertainty surrounding Michael Olise, with Real Madrid reportedly preparing a €165 million bid. However, Eberl firmly dismissed those claims in the same interview:

"Michael Olise is absolutely untouchable for other clubs at this moment. We won't consider selling him for even a second," Bayern's sporting chief concluded.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 31

Friday

RB Leipzig - Union Berlin 3-1 (2-0)

/Finkgrafe 22, Romulo 25, Baku 63 - Doekhi 78/

Saturday

Augsburg - Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 (1-0)

/Kade 45 - Doan 66/

Heidenheim - St. Pauli 2-0 (1-0)

/Zivzivadze 3, Dinkci 82/

Koln - Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 (0-1)

/Waldschmidt 77 - Schick 41 pen, 52/

Mainz - Bayern Munich 3-4 (3-0)

/Kohr 15, Nebel 29, Becker 45+2 - Jackson 53, Olise 73, Musiala 80, Kane 83//

Wolfsburg - Monchengladbach 0-0

Hamburger - Hoffenheim 1-2 (1-2)

/Glatzel 34 pen - Asllani 18, Lemperle 45/

Sunday

16.30: (1.55) Stuttgart (4.20) Werder (5.90)

18.30: (1.40) Dortmund (4.80) Freiburg (7.75)

***odds are subject to change***