Nicolas Jackson is a target for Aston Villa, but a move for the Chelsea star is complicated for several reasons
Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson(Image: ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Aston Villa are interested in doing business with Chelsea once again this summer by signing Nicolas Jackson.
A move, however, is not as straightforward as any other transfer, especially after Alejandro Garnacho joined Unai Emery's squad.
Having signed on loan, with an obligation to buy that will be triggered once certain conditions are met, Villa cannot recruit another player on loan from Chelsea this summer.
Premier League rules specifically state that a club cannot have more than one player on loan from the same club at the same time, ruling out the possibility of Jackson joining on an initial loan directly from Chelsea.
Signing Jackson on a permanent deal would also raise some alarm bells, not least because of UEFA's 'swap' rules. The key point here is whether the transfers could be defined as a 'swap deal'.
One of the clauses in UEFA's transfer regulations defining "player exchange transactions" states that multiple deals between two clubs, with players moving in both directions and completed within a 45-day period, will be considered a swap.
If two clubs transfer players in the same window after those 45 days have elapsed, the deals could still be considered a swap if there is anything in the contracts linking the transactions.
However, Villa and Chelsea are both confident that Garnacho's move to Villa will not cause any issues with UEFA, with the profit Villa earned from Morgan Rogers potentially being reduced by half if the governing body were to classify the deal as a swap.
That profit of around £80 million on Rogers is hugely important for Villa given the financial regulations they are working within, while Chelsea will not be letting Jackson leave on the cheap either.
Last summer, Chelsea wanted £70 million for Jackson, and although his valuation has dropped since then, it could still take a club-record fee for Villa to land him this summer.
Unai Emery already needs a new left-back, midfielder, right-back and creative option before he can think about reuniting with Jackson, whom he previously coached at Villarreal.
Should Villa pursue Jackson this summer, both clubs will only agree to a deal if they are confident it will be accepted by UEFA, given that they have both come under increased scrutiny in recent years and have each been sanctioned for breaching financial regulations.
Both Villa and Chelsea are known to be creative in their dealings, but completing this transfer could require either reassurance from UEFA that it would not be viewed as a swap deal — given Villa's long-standing interest in Jackson — or another innovative solution.
How much is Jackson worth? Tell us here
John Townley
John Townley
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