Unai Emery
Aston Villa have submitted a €70 million offer (£60 million) to Chelsea for striker Nicolas Jackson as Unai Emery's side prepare for the departure of Ollie Watkins.
The Villans travelled to Brighton on Sunday without a recognised striker in the squad. Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo are injured, with Watkins unavailable to play due to transfer speculation.
On Tuesday afternoon, Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reported that Aston Villa have made a decisive move for Jackson, with Chelsea ready to accept the £60 million offer.
The Midlands outfit must still agree personal terms with Jackson, who is not part of Xabi Alonso's plans at Stamford Bridge this season. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, but the Bundesliga giants have not returned for the striker this summer.
Aston Villa submit £60m bid for Chelsea striker
via Reuters
Chelsea striker Jackson has not played for the Blues since the FIFA Club World Cup last summer. The Senegal international scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Bayern Munich last season, but struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI in front of England international Harry Kane.
The forward returned to Stamford Bridge this summer but was never expected to be part of Alonso's plans for the 2026/27 campaign. The Villans were credited with interest over the weekend, and have now formalised that with a bid.
A move to Villa Park would see Jackson reunited with Emery, who coached the player at Villarreal. Aston Villa's opening offer is below the £65 million asking price put on the player by Chelsea, but is believed to be enough for the Blues to consider a sale.
Nicolas Jackson Premier League stats -
Appearances 65
Goals 24
Assists 10
Yellow Cards / Red Cards 17 / 1
Jackson is viewed as a successor to Watkins, who is expected to complete a move to Saudi Arabia. The former Brentford man is keen to make the move to Al Hilal, with the club seeing a £38.5 million offer rejected by Aston Villa last week.
Aston Villa do not want to sell the player but Emery was forced to leave the striker out of his matchday squad on Sunday amid speculation. Prior to the trip to Brighton, the manager said: "We have an issue with him, it is clear.
"He is here and is a fantastic striker. We have always believed and supported him, he did it. There is 10 days to finish the transfer window, we will see. He is our player and I am happy with him."
The Foot Mercato report also confirms simultaneous interest in Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta, who could offer a significantly cheaper alternative to Jackson.
The Eagles have already rejected a £20 million bid for the Frenchman from Aston Villa. Mateta almost quit Selhurst Park for Juventus in January, but that deal collapsed at the eleventh hour.
Mateta started for Crystal Palace in Pierre Sage's first match in charge against Everton on Saturday, but the South London club is open to sanctioning a player with the striker entering the final 12 months of his contract.