Chelsea have placed a staggering £65 million valuation on Nicolas Jackson, with reports suggesting his uncertain long-term future at Stamford Bridge is unlikely to change this summer.
The Senegal international has been recalled into the pre-season squad by new manager Xabi Alonso, although his place in the pecking order is still very shaky. He has just returned from a fruitless loan spell at Bayern Munich, where they didn’t meet their purchase obligation. He now has to deal with an overloaded attacking department at Stamford Bridge.
Not making Europe and finishing 10th in the Premier League was a disaster for the Blues. With no continental football, the team has less work to do through the week and fewer minutes to throw at an already very full forward line. Jackson is a very saleable asset, and with the likes of Joao Pedro, Emmanuel Emegha, and Marc Guiu all competing for game time, the club need him to generate money.
Since signing from Villarreal for around £32 million in 2023, Jackson has scored 30 goals and assisted 12 times. The 25-year-old has also attracted interest from clubs such as Newcastle United, Juventus, and Aston Villa. The forward’s deal is a nine-year span from September 2024 to 2033, so he’s still got plenty of value.
Chelsea Face Pressing Need to Offload Strikers
The Jackson situation with Chelsea is tied to the larger financial problem that the Clearlake-Boehly ownership is still wrestling with. Missing out on Europe has cut off a rich stream of income for the club at a time when their obligations are tightening.
In 2026/27, they will miss out on more than £80 million in prize money and TV money from European competition. So making a shedload of cash from player trading has gone from a strategic choice to something they have to do this summer.
The fact that so many forwards are fighting for one spot in the striking department only helps the argument for a sale. If the figures are not addressed, many attackers will become frustrated. Delap endured a terrible first season and has also been tipped to move on permanently, which could open the door for Jackson to stay.