Chelsea have set a huge price tag on striker Nicholas Jackson, with Manchester United and other clubs in the Premier League, Europe, and Saudi Arabia monitoring the Senegalese’s situation at Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea value their talented forward Nicolas Jackson at £80 million to £100 million, a fee comparable to the £79 million Liverpool have agreed to pay Eintracht Frankfurt for French star Hugo Ekitike.
However, Chelsea are under no pressure to sell the striker, who has eight years remaining on his current deal at Stamford Bridge.
Read more: Hugo Ekitike set to undergo Liverpool medical on Tuesday
The 24-year-old has been a subject of interest since Liam Delap was brought in from Ipswich for £30 million, along with the recent addition of Brazilian star Joao Pedro from Brighton for around £55 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
Speculations about Jackson arose after he played a minor role in Chelsea’s victory in the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup. They won the tournament by defeating Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final, securing the first edition of the new-format continental competition.
Despite his limited tournament role, Chelsea rates Jackson higher than 23-year-old Ekitike, citing his superior scoring and goal involvement record over the past two seasons in a more competitive league.
Read more: Real Madrid open to selling Liverpool target Rodrygo
Jackson has recorded 34 goal contributions over the past two Premier League seasons, surpassing Ekitike’s 29 contributions in a single season with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Although a sale this summer seems unlikely, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are planning to offload several players, and losing a striker could disrupt the manager’s strategy to begin the season with a trio of forwards.
With the recent signings of Delap and Pedro, Chelsea might opt for a wide player rather than another No. 9 if Nicolas Jackson departs, given Pedro Neto’s versatility to play through the middle.
The club is currently considering Xavi Simons, Alejandro Garnacho, Morgan Rogers, and Kenan Yıldız as potential targets.
Read more: Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo completes medical ahead of move to Man United
