‘Mistake’ – Chelsea given stark Nicolas Jackson warning amid ‘complicated’ transfer saga
Chelsea will be making a big mistake in selling Nicolas Jackson to Newcastle or Aston Villa this summer.
That’s the view of former Arsenal and England forward Paul Merson, who has warned the Blues that Jackson ‘could come back to haunt them’.
Jackson only joined Chelsea from Villarreal two years ago, since notching 30 goals and 12 assists in 81 appearances — winning Conference League and Club World Cup titles.
But Chelsea have spent heavily on the likes of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer, meaning Jackson is up for sale and attracting ‘complicated’ interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Paul Merson gives Chelsea stark Nicolas Jackson warning
“He [Jackson] is available but he is not going to be part of the squad,” Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said ahead of this weekend’s trip to West Ham (Mirror, 21 August). “Because as we already said, we have two strikers, we have two players in that position, and also we know that something can happen before the transfer window closes.”
That is proof enough of where Chelsea stand with Jackson, not to mention the fact he was left out of the squad for the 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
But while Maresca doesn’t fancy Jackson, Merson is a big fan and believes Chelsea could be making a huge mistake by selling him this summer.
“I like Jackson, I’ve seen a lot of him. He’s a bit messy and his touch will be poor — but I’d love to play with him. The position I played in, I’d love to have played with him because he opens games up,” Merson told Sky Sports (21 August).
“If I were Aston Villa or Newcastle, I’d buy him all day long. He goes the other way, and on a big pitch like Newcastle’s, you could get Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali more on the ball.
“If you asked a lot of defenders, I reckon after the game – even though he is messy and needs more coaching — I don’t think there would be too many centre-halves who would say: that was easy. He gives you a hard time, he’s willing to run.”
On Chelsea being so willing to move Jackson out of Stamford Bridge, he continued: “I’m pretty shocked with Chelsea. He made Cole Palmer, and Palmer made Jackson. They worked as a pair and really stretched the game, and it got Palmer on the ball and let him do his stuff.
“Now I don’t see that. Joao Pedro wants to come short and compresses Palmer’s game. I know we’re one game in, but Palmer is going further and further back to get the ball. You don’t want him there; you want him around the box as he can weave his magic, as he is the X-Factor.
“I don’t think this is a great move for Chelsea. I think it’s a mistake. Jackson could come back to haunt them if he went to Newcastle or Villa, by scoring a few goals.”
Chelsea right to cash in on Nicolas Jackson
Football Insider verdict
Merson does have a point in that Jackson brings a physical presence and plenty of chaos to any team he plays for.
And a record of 24 goals and 10 assists in 65 Premier League outings is certainly not to be sniffed at — hence the interest in signing him this summer.
However, the Senegalese striker is also something of a rogue, picking up 18 yellow cards and two sendings off during his time at Stamford Bridge so far, while he’s fourth among ever-present Chelsea players for Premier League fouls during his time at the club (63, FBref).
Chelsea have opted for a different approach this summer, bringing in Joao Pedro to offer some more refinement up top, serviced by quality wingers like Jamie Gittens and Estevao — not to mention Palmer.
And they still have Delap around if a plan B or more physical presence is required.
Jackson may, indeed, score plenty of goals if he swaps Stamford Bridge for Villa Park or St. James Park.
However, the money Chelsea can bring in for a sale is far more useful than having an unhappy striker barely seeing a minute on the pitch.