Aston Villa transfer news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery is claimed to be considering a swoop for a player to whom he gave his senior debut
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Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson celebrates scoring in the Conference League final
Nicolas Jackson has new competition at Chelsea this summer and could become surplus to requirements
Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson as they seek to bolter their striking options.
That’s according to website Give Me Sport, who claim Unai Emery is ‘eyeing a reunion’ with a player with whom he worked at Villarreal.
Jackson came through the youth set-up with the La Liga outfit and was handed his first team debut against Real Betis in October 2021.
At the time Spanish outlet AS claimed: “Jackson is a powerful and tall winger, making him a player profile that Unai is very keen on.”
The Senegal international has since gone on to sign an eight-year deal and establish himself as first choice centre-forward at Stamford Bridge, a contract that still has six years to run.
In all, Jackson has scored 30 goals in 79 games for the Blues, including 13 in 35 last term as the club won the Europa Conference League and qualified for the Champions League.
However, the arrival of £30m Liam Delap at Stamford Bridge appears to have challenged Jackson’s position, and Give Me Sport claim Villa are ‘ready to enter discussions’ regarding the 23-year-old.
The story claims Villa are remaining patient while Chelsea decide what to do with the forward, but adds that they are under no pressure to cash in a player it is claimed earns £100,000 a week.
They add Emery wants a forward who can play both on the left and through the middle, a la Marcus Rashford, whose return does not seem likely.
As things stand, Villa have Ollie Watkins as their out-and-out first choice, having cashed in on Jhon Duran in the January transfer window.
There has been continued speculation around Watkins' future given Arsenal's approach for the 29-year-old earlier this year.
They have a £40m option for January loan recruit Rashford but the signs are that they won’t trigger it, not least with the Manchester United man seemingly preferring a move to Barcelona.
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