Chelsea are interested in a deal to sign Villarreal’s Nicolas Jackson as the club look to sign a centre-forward this summer.
Jackson has had a breakthrough campaign at Villarreal to attract interest from clubs across Europe and Chelsea are considering an approach for the 21-year-old, who scored 12 goals in La Liga last season.
According to The Guardian, Jackson is one of several forwards on Chelsea’s radar as Mauricio Pochettino looks to add goals to his squad, alongside Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
The Senegal international came close to signing for Bournemouth during the January transfer window, but a £22.5m move to the Premier League collapsed after Jackson failed a medical due to hamstring issues.
Chelsea are expected to face competition for the forward should the west Londoners firm up interest with a formal bid, with both Aston Villa and Bayern Munich considering approaches.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery handed Jackson his first-team debut at Villarreal and brought the academy graduate into the side last season, before leaving Spain for Villa Park.
