Nicolas Jackson’s wages not out of reach for Aston Villa as Unai Emery reunion on cards
Nicolas Jackson could be back on the menu for Aston Villa as a potential loan-to-buy option could reunite the striker with Unai Emery.
The unwanted Chelsea man has been knocked down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after the arrivals of Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich.
Sources told Football Insider on 15 August that Jackson wants to join Aston Villa after telling his friends of his desire to move to the Midlands club.
Newcastle have been interested in the Senegalese striker as the long-term replacement to Alexander Isak, yet the eye-watering £60million fee demanded by the Blues is deemed too much.
Now, a potential reunion is on the cards with former boss Emery at Villa Park following their time at Villarreal in Spain.
Unai Emery a big fan of Nicolas Jackson as loan option on the cards
According to a report by The Telegraph (19 August), the Villains are “exploring the viability” of signing the number 15 before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea’s valuation of £60m is understood to be too much for Villa due to “financial restrictions” which has hampered the club’s transfer activity this summer.
Whilst a permanent transfer looks unlikely to be on the cards, Jackson’s approximate £100,000-per-week wages “would not be out of Villa’s reach”.
Stringent financial rules mean that the “only option available to Villa” would be to make an offer to take the Senegalese on loan with “an obligation or option to sign him permanently”.
Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa would suit all parties
Football Insider verdict
This proposed transfer is reminiscent of Marcus Rashford’s short-term loan to the Villains from Man United last season which satisfied both clubs.
The same applies with the African with Enzo Maresca seemingly casting him out of his plans whilst Emery is desperate to add another striker to provide more firepower and support for Ollie Watkins up top.
The Spaniard’s intense, free-flowing system would suit the pace of the ex-Villarreal forward who would look to make runs into the channel and behind.
| Nicolas Jackson Premier League | |
| Appearances | 65 |
| Goals | 24 |
| Assists | 10 |
He would add a different dimension to Villa’s attacking game and, on a loan deal, it would also not necessarily mean the Midlands club would need to sign him (depending on what is agreed in the package).
For me, the 24-year-old gets unwarranted hate given he has scored at least 10 goals in each of his two Premier League campaigns.
Chelsea are ruthless operators but by them kicking Jackson to the kerb, the Birmingham-based team could pick him up and get every ounce of quality from the number 15.