Aston Villa have reportedly submitted an offer of around €70m for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and a deal could now be close.
With speculation continuing to link Ollie Watkins with an exit this week, Villa will need to sign a replacement in order to ensure that there is enough firepower at Unai Emery’s disposal.
While rumours have paired us with various names, Jackson has been a constant in reports, and it’s now suggested that we could be edging closer to reaching an agreement to sign him.
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As reported by Santi Aouna, Villa have submitted an offer of around €70m including bonuses for the Senegalese international, and with Chelsea said to be on the verge of accepting, it could lead to a breakthrough to allow us to open talks with Jackson over personal terms.
It’s added that Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is also on our radar but we’ve had a bid rejected for the Frenchman, and so that would suggest that all focus will now lead to getting a deal for Jackson over the line.
The 25-year-old has had spells at Villarreal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, with Emery working with him during their time together in Spain, while he has bagged 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 81 appearances for Chelsea.
With his attributes and qualities in mind, it makes sense as a replacement move for Watkins, as he’ll offer many of the same strengths with his pace, movement and goal threat in the final third.
Further, it would also be a smart addition in that it gives us two very different options depending on if we play with either Jackson or one Brian Madjo or Tammy Abraham leading the line, or perhaps as a duo, as while the latter pair give us more of a focal point and a target man presence up top, Jackson gives us a different dynamic that makes us more dangerous.
Time will tell if a deal gets done in the coming days, but Villa are expected to make significant signings before the deadline, as we look to replace the key individuals that we’ve lost this summer, with Watkins perhaps next to depart.