The latest transfer news out of Stamford Bridge with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson looking increasingly likely to depart before the end of the summer window
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso has played a massive part in Chelsea's transfer business this summer(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP)
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Aston Villa are weighing up whether to make an official move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson this summer.
The Blues are open to selling Jackson as long and have slapped a £65million price tag on the forward. The 25-year-old has been training away from Chelsea's first-team squad recently and has been instead working with a separate group. Sources inside the club are quick to insist said training group is 'mixed' and not a 'bomb squad', as we have seen in previous seasons during BlueCo's tenure.
Atletico Madrid are interested in Jackson as well, although Spanish sources say a loan moved is the preferred option for Diego Simeone's team. However, Chelsea's preference is for Jackson to leave on a permanent basis.
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Villa cannot sign Jackson on loan because they have already taken Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea on a temporary deal. Premier League rules forbid any club from the division taking more than one player on loan from the same rival at a time.
Unai Emery wants to bolster his attacking options at Villa Park this summer. Ollie Watkins is being strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with the Villans reportedly turning down four offers from Al-Hilal.
Emery and Jackson have a strong relationship from their days working together at Villarreal and the pair are said to be keen on reuniting before next month's transfer deadline.
As for Chelsea, they are open to selling Jackson, as well as fellow strikers Liam Delap, Marc Guiu and David Datro Fofana before the conclusion of the window. Delap has interest from multiple Premier League clubs, including Everton, and teams from abroad but thus far, Chelsea's £50m price tag has put potential suitors off.
Stamford Bridge insiders expect Guiu to leave the club on a permanent basis this summer, while a loan move cannot be ruled out at the time of writing. Chelsea are also trying to find a new home for outcast Datro Fofana, who has not made a first-team appearance for the Blues since way back in May 2023.
Chelsea are set to go into the upcoming season with three strikers to choose from. Xabi Alonso has been left mightily impressed with what he has seen from Joao Pedro in their short time together and that is part of the reason why the Blues are set to reward their top goal scorer from last season with new-and-improved terms on a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha - two new signings - are set to play second and third fiddle to Joao Pedro.