Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has not made a decision on Nicolas Jackson’s future despite strong links with a move away from the club this summer. Aston Villa are among a number of clubs interested in signing the Senegal international during the final weeks of the transfer window.
However, Villa currently lack flexibility in their budget and would need to make sales before pursuing a deal for Jackson, who spent the entirety of last season on loan at Bayern Munich.
Unai Emery is a big admirer of Jackson, having previously worked with him at Villarreal before leaving the Spanish club to replace Steven Gerrard as Aston Villa manager in November 2022.
After impressing new Chelsea boss Alonso during the club’s tour of Australia, there is now even a possibility that Jackson could remain part of the squad.
“We need to go day by day, checking options,” Alonso explained. “But we are happy that Nico is with us.
“Nico is a great player. He is a threat against any defence, so we want to have players who can compete, and for sure Nico is one of them.”
Villa, meanwhile, have already conducted business with Chelsea several times this summer, with Morgan Rogers joining the Blues for £117 million in July.
Alejandro Garnacho then joined Villa on a season-long loan with a conditional obligation to buy.
Villa’s former set-piece coach Austin MacPhee also moved to the capital, linking up with Alonso as part of his backroom team.
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