Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is attracting interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Atletico Madrid as uncertainty over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge grows.
Since joining Chelsea from Villarreal for £32 million in 2023, Jackson has netted 26 goals in 68 appearances. Despite a promising debut season with 17 goals across all competitions, the Senegal international faced criticism for his inconsistency in front of goal, with pundits like Ian Wright and Frank Lampard questioning his finishing ability.
Jackson started this season brightly, scoring nine goals in his first 16 games, helping Chelsea emerge as unexpected Premier League title contenders. However, his form has dipped in recent months, with the 23-year-old now on an eight-game goal drought. His absence due to a hamstring injury was notably felt in Chelsea’s FA Cup exit against Brighton.
Despite Enzo Maresca’s admiration for Jackson, Chelsea are expected to sign a new striker this summer, which could push the forward down the pecking order. This situation has alerted Aston Villa and Newcastle, who are both monitoring his availability, according to The Sun.
Villa, having sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in January, is evaluating their attacking options, especially with Arsenal still showing interest in Ollie Watkins. Newcastle, meanwhile, are bracing for potential bids for star striker Alexander Isak, whose valuation exceeds £100 million.
Atletico Madrid is also keeping tabs on Jackson, having previously tracked his development during his time in La Liga.
Maresca recently spoke about Jackson’s impact on the team, saying, “Sometimes you need to play games without players to realize how important they are. Off the ball, his pressing is always very good, and on the ball, he is always a threat.”
Providing an injury update, Maresca added, “We knew it was a muscular problem, but we didn’t know how severe it was. His reaction seemed good initially, but after a scan, we realized it was a significant injury. He will be out for six to eight weeks.”
With Jackson sidelined, Christopher Nkunku is expected to lead Chelsea’s attack in Friday’s Premier League rematch against Brighton, where the Blues will seek redemption for their FA Cup defeat.