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Manager opens door for Aston Villa transfer and admits 'anything can happen'

Nicolas Jackson

Villa target? Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has teased striker Nicolas Jackson's availability this summer transfer window amid links with a move to Aston Villa.

Chelsea, who have won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in recent months, have signed Liam Delap and Joao Pedro from Ipswich Town and Brighton respectively this summer.

And that has sparked doubt over the Stamford Bridge future of Senegal international Jackson, who has spent the last two years at the London club and made 42 goal contributions in 81 appearances.

have been previously linked with a move for Jackson; they're after another striker after selling Jhon Duran last January and having only loaned Marcus Rashford in the same window to help deepen Unai Emery's attacking options - a temporary arrangement which has since ended, and leaves as the sole senior forward currently, although Evann Guessand is en route.

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It promises to be an exciting season ahead for Aston Villa as side look to build on last season's efforts and will look to finish even higher this time around.

Despite not achieving the same feat of the 2023/2024 season by securing a spot — the 2024/25 campaign proved to be a decent one for the Villains. managed to get into continental football by qualifying for the and will play their third consecutive season of European competition.

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Villa boss Emery worked with Jackson during their time together at Villarreal, who the Spaniard left in the autumn of 2022 to come to . Jackson left for Chelsea a few months later.

Jackson has also been linked with Newcastle and Manchester United, and it sounds as though any serious offers for the player will be considered by Chelsea. Boss Maresca certainly didn't rule out a sale later down the line when asked.

“Nico is okay," he . "He’s okay. When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico’s situation. At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao and Liam. So we will see what happens.”

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