In their pursuit of a new star striker, Chelsea have reportedly turned their attention to Villareal hitman Nicolas Jackson, according to a report from the Evening Standard.
Chelsea’s pursuit of a striker in the summer transfer window has been well-documented – they have also been linked with moves for players such as Victor Osimhen and Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane.
He is believed to be available for a fee of around £30 million. As such, he will provide a cheaper option than both Kane and Osimhen – although, with Chelsea’s vast financial resources, this may not be an issue for the Blues.
Aged just 21, he still has plenty of room to grow. He is not the finished product at this stage in his career, but he is showing plenty of potential at his young age.
Who else, besides Chelsea, are interested in a move for Nicolas Jackson?
Chelsea are not the only high-profile club who are believed to be interested in a move for Jackson. According to an article by The Sun, both AC Milan and RB Leipzig are also thought to be monitoring the player, with a transfer move in mind.
Additionally, both of these clubs have a distinct advantage over the Blues – they will be able to offer Jackson Champions League football next season. Chelsea, meanwhile, have not qualified for any European competition next season, following their disastrous 12th-placed finish in the Premier League.
In the January transfer window, he was set to make the jump to AFC Bournemouth, but he failed his medical at the club after suffering a hamstring injury.
Nicolas Jackson’s football career so far
Born in 2001, Jackson joined the youth academies of Tilene and Casa Sports before making the jump to Villareal in 2019, where he remains to this day.
After a loan spell at Mirandes, he made his Villareal debut in 2021. So far, he has scored 12 goals in 35 games for El Submarino Amarillo.
Despite being born in The Gambia, Jackson chose to represent Senegal on the international stage. So far, he has won two caps for the Lions of Teranga, but has yet to score a goal for them.