(Credit Imago)

George Overhill

Sat 12 July 2025 13:56, UK

Chelsea are expected to respond to an enquiry from Aston Villa for Nicolas Jackson with a return offer to sign Morgan Rogers.

The Blues forward has seen his stock fall at Stamford Bridge in the wake of red cards in the Premier League and Club World Cup, against Newcastle and Flamengo respectively, coupled with the arrival of summer signings Liam Delap from Ipswich and Joao Pedro from Brighton.

Top Villa striker Ollie Watkins’ future is also uncertain after Unai Emery spent periods of last season preferring the now-departed Jhon Duran up front, before often turning to Man United exile Marcus Rashford during his loan spell.

Football Insider has been told Arsenal retain an interest in Watkins after having a bid turned down for the England international in January, and it is thought he may be in favour of leaving Aston Villa after apparently losing the trust of his manager.

Ollie Watkins exit could see Aston Villa eye Chelsea misfit

According to The Telegraph Jackson could be the next high-profile star to depart amid the never-ending squad revamp under the American ownership Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea teammates are said to be speculating Jackson may be headed for the exit after being left out of pre-match drills in the wake of his recent suspensions.

Noni Madueke is on the brink of joining Arsenal, after Mick Brown told Football Insider the Gunners were stepping up their efforts, as the Blues look to offset new arrivals this summer in the form of Delap, Pedro, ex-Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, and former Palmeiras wonderkid Estevao Willian.

However, should Jackson indeed follow Madueke through the exit doors, Chelsea could reportedly look to sign yet more forwards during the current window.

With multiple Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Man United and Aston Villa, in the market for a striker an exit for Watkins at Villa Park, amid links to Old Trafford, is tipped to make Emery’s side a potential destination for the Senegalese international at Stamford Bridge.

If that happens it is thought to be “almost certain” that Chelsea would resurrect their interest in Villa star Rogers by making a bid for the Englishman in response.

Enzo Maresca’s squad set for further changes

Chelsea can’t help themselves continually looking for newer and shinier additions, with the model seemingly to throw as many talented youngsters together as possible and by sheer weight of numbers there will be the occasional Cole Palmer or Moises Caicedo on the other side.

Everyone else is essentially a bargaining tool if the ownership sense the possibility that another star in the making is available.

Jackson, 24, has arguably done roughly what used to be expected of a player arriving at his age and experience, having fluctuated between excellent and infuriating.

But he certainly hasn’t made himself indispensable in the past two seasons, and if a club like Villa were to bring an offer to the table that represents a profit and the chance to offset some of the more recent Chelsea spending to help appease UEFA it is bound to be taken.

Rogers has probably proven himself the more valuable commodity despite half a season less experience in the Premier League, and he is two years younger than Jackson.

But his age, his quality, and the fact he is an ex-Man City youth product like Palmer, Delap, Gittens, Romeo Lavia and Tosin Adarabioyo make ongoing interest from Chelsea no surprise, although quite where he would fit into the growing crowd of talented attackers is anyone’s guess.

Chelsea and Aston Villa have both been fined by UEFA for their spending, and Dr. Dan Plumley has told Football Insider the latter may have to get rid of two big names as a result.

The two clubs engaged in some reciprocal deals a year ago in the face of profit and sustainability pressures when Ian Maatsen and Omari Kellyman went in opposite directions so there is precedent, but Emery is sure to be loath to lose Rogers under any circumstances.