After a slow start to the summer transfer window, Chelsea have quickly moved for a left winger and a versatile striker in the form of Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, respectively, with both deals just awaiting official announcements. This is just the beginning of the Blues' arrivals ahead of next season, as the club still wants to bring a centre-back and a new goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are also looking to part with some players to free up space in the squad for the new arrivals and also to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). It remains to be seen how successful they are in doing that.
Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson had another underwhelming season that saw him fail to match the goal tally of his debut campaign. And with the arrivals of Liam Delap and Pedro, he is at risk of losing his spot as a starter. His recent performances, including a red card against Flamengo in the Club World Cup, didn’t help his case either.
Several clubs are already keeping an eye on the player, including Chelsea’s city rivals Arsenal. Now, another Premier League club has joined this list and wants to take the Senegal international away from Stamford Bridge. According to Football Insider, Aston Villa have made a preliminary move for Jackson. They have been in touch with his representatives.
Aston Villa make initial contact to sign Jackson from Chelsea
With the arrival of Delap as the new number 9 of the club and the addition of Pedro as well for the position, Jackson’s chances of getting regular minutes next season have gotten slimmer. So at this point, a move away looks like the sensible way forward for the player. And Villa Park could be the next destination for him, as he has previously played under Unai Emery during their time at Villarreal.
Recently, Chelsea were also interested in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. The Blues could use Jackson as leverage in a swap or a swap-plus-cash deal to secure his signature.
That said, these are just speculations and nothing is final as of yet, with other clubs also competing for the striker. Let's see where Jackson ends up, if he does indeed leave Chelsea this summer.