Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Nicolas Jackson was part of Chelsea’s squad for the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, but the Blues still appear to be open to selling the striker this summer.
Chelsea are not light in the centre-forward department, with Jackson, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha and Marc Guiu all still on the club’s books.
Nicolas Jackson's and Liam Delap's stats
Credit: Jonathan Moscrop/Visionhaus via Getty Images
However, according to CaughtOffside, Chelsea could sell Jackson for €60m (£51m), which feels like a pretty low valuation. Here are three reasons why:
Midfielders have cost significantly more this summer
It is quite interesting that the midfielder market has not actually impacted the centre-forward market. Strikers like Jackson are going to win more games than the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, yet they are going for significantly more.
Tottenham Hotspur paid £85m for Fernandes and £100m for Tonali. Good players, but how many points are they going to win Spurs?
A No.9 of Jackson’s quality probably scores 15 goals and wins you plenty of points if he starts week in, week out. It is baffling that clubs are willing to pay £100m for a midfielder but only half of that on a No.9.
Chelsea should really be reminding Jackson’s suitors of the above. That does not necessarily mean slapping a £100m price tag on the Senegal international, but they should be trying to get a bit more than £50m for his signature, perhaps at least £60m.
Valeri Vladimirov of AC Milan competes for the ball against Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea FC
Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Good resale value
This is not a 30-year-old that Chelsea would be selling, it is also important to mention that.
Jackson is still just 25, meaning that he has good resale value. If Jackson joins another club and explodes there, they could easily end up selling him to another top side for more than £50m.
Aston Villa are interested in Jackson and may fancy doing such in the future. They have already sold Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for £117m.
Huge potential
Finally, let us not forget that Jackson is a very capable centre-forward who has a lot of potential. Whoever Chelsea sell him to, if a transfer does happen, will be getting a talented striker.
Yes, Jackson’s finishing could be much better. The timing of his runs also needs work, as the former Bayern Munich loanee is caught offside quite often.
However, his all-round centre-forward play is top-notch. Jackson can hold up the ball, win fouls and bring others into play.
For £50m, you are getting a lot, which is why Chelsea would be well within their rights to ask for a larger fee in this mad market.