Chelsea Football Club has made a surprising move in the transfer market. The Blues have cut the price tag for striker Nicolas Jackson after the player told the club he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge.
Jackson, the Senegal international, has been Chelsea’s main striker since joining from Villarreal two seasons ago. He has scored 30 goals in that time and was once considered the club’s first-choice No. 9.
However, this summer has brought big changes. New manager Enzo Maresca has signed two new strikers, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, for a combined fee of nearly £100 million. These arrivals have pushed Jackson down the pecking order.
Throughout the summer, signs grew that Jackson was no longer in the manager’s plans. The clearest sign came when he was left out of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. This decision came after an agreement that the player could look for a new club.
📰 Also Read This:
At first, Chelsea were asking for around £80 million to let Jackson go. But now, reports from The Times say the club would accept a fee of about £52 million, the same amount they got for selling Noni Madueke.
This is a huge price drop and could spark a transfer battle between Newcastle United and Manchester United, both of whom are interested in the 23-year-old forward.
Jackson’s numbers last season tell a mixed story. While he has a good overall goal tally at Chelsea, he only managed one goal in his last 15 Premier League matches. Despite that poor run, Chelsea handed him a contract extension in September last year, keeping him at the club until 2033.
Jackson’s season also had moments of controversy. He was sent off during Chelsea’s Club World Cup group-stage match against Flamengo and has not played for the team since.
When asked about Jackson’s future, manager Enzo Maresca gave a vague answer. He said: “When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico’s situation. At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao [Pedro] and Liam [Delap]. So we will see what happens.”
This comment added more fuel to speculation that Jackson’s days at Stamford Bridge are numbered.
Chelsea’s transfer activity doesn’t stop there. The club is also chasing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho. These ambitious moves could depend on the money raised from selling Jackson.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are still searching for a new striker after missing out on Benjamin Sesko. Jackson’s availability could make him their next big target.
For Manchester United, the interest in Jackson comes as they look to strengthen their attacking options. With both clubs in the race, Chelsea might hope for a bidding war.
If Jackson leaves, it will end a two-year chapter at Chelsea that started with high hopes but is now closing with uncertainty.
The next few weeks will be crucial. Jackson’s future will depend not only on Chelsea’s willingness to sell but also on whether Newcastle or Manchester United make a formal move.
Chelsea fans will be watching closely to see how the situation develops, especially since the money from his sale could help bring in big names like Simons and Garnacho.
The player himself will be keen to find a club where he can be the main man again, leading the line and scoring goals regularly.
Whether he ends up in Newcastle black-and-white or Manchester red remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Nicolas Jackson’s future is one of the most intriguing transfer stories of the summer.
