Aston Villa are exploring a loan with option to buy Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson who is valued in excess of £60million.
Villa have a long-held interest with Jackson having worked with Unai Emery previously at Villarreal.
Jackson, 23, joined Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 and showed flashes of promise in his debut Premier League season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. But despite finishing as the Blues’ top scorer, his form was erratic and he drew criticism for his wastefulness in front of goal.
Chelsea have signed Joao Pedro from Brighton in a deal worth up to £60m and Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for around £30m, giving Enzo Maresca two new centre-forward options who can also operate across the front line. Those arrivals have pushed Jackson down the order for minutes through the middle.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have resumed talks with Chelsea for Christopher Nkunku which could see Xavi Simons move in the opposite direction.
Nkunku’s first season in London was disrupted by injury and he has struggled to establish a run of starts since returning.
Aston Villa are exploring a loan with option to buy Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson who is valued in excess of £60million
Unai Emery has previously worked with the Senegal forward during their time with LaLiga side Villarreal
A Leipzig reunion, where he scored 70 goals across all competitions and won the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season in 2022, would offer a familiar platform to rediscover his form.
The Blues rejected a loan move for Nkunku, 27, from Bayern Munich on Sunday. Chelsea and the forward only want a permanent deal.
Elsewhere, Chelsea defender Renato Veiga, 22, has agreed personal terms with Spanish club Villarreal but a fee has still to be agreed with the Stamford Bridge club wanting around £34m.
Leander Dendoncker has left Villa to join Real Oviedo while Leon Bailey travelled to Italy yesterday ahead of completing his loan move to Roma.
