Nicolas Jackson is reportedly set to be offered an escape route from Chelsea this summer by his former manager Unai Emery.
The Senegalese striker, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury until the end of March, has had an inconsistent tenure at Stamford Bridge since his 2023 move from Villarreal.
His first season showed promise but was hindered by missed chances and inconsistency, while his second season has seen a sharp decline after a strong start.
Jackson scored nine Premier League goals in his first 15 matches, but his form faded before his February injury, failing to score in his last eight appearances, leading to criticism from figures like Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
Although Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has expressed confidence in the 23-year-old, the Blues are reportedly keen to sign a new striker this summer, potentially ending Jackson’s time as the club's first-choice forward.
According to The Sun, Aston Villa, managed by Emery, is now closely monitoring Jackson’s situation, with Newcastle also showing interest.
Villa may face a fight to retain Ollie Watkins, with Arsenal pursuing a deal, while Newcastle could lose Alexander Isak if they miss out on Champions League qualification.
Ahead of Chelsea's 3-0 win over Villa In December, Emery, who gave Jackson his first-team debut at Villarreal in 2021, recalled his time working with the striker at the Estadio de la Cerámica, describing his attitude as "fantastic."
"He was always learning,"remembered the Spaniard. "He was always demanding to train more, to be focused. He was also being a professional every day out of training sessions at home because he was focused on football like the first priority in his life."
Enzo Maresca hails "important" Nicolas Jackson
Maresca has remained steadfast in his belief in Jackson this season, even as the Senegalese international has struggled to find the back of the net in recent months.
After being forced to leave him out of Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup last week, the Italian coach once again praised Jackson's contribution to the team
"Sometimes I think you need to play some games without players to realise how important they are," he said. "Off the ball, his pressing is always very good and on the ball he is a threat always."
Speaking about Jackson's injury, which he sustained during Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over West Ham United earlier in the month, Maresca explained: "We knew it was a muscular problem but we didn’t know how important it was."
"His reaction was quite good so we all thought that was not a big injury but unfortunately he had the scan a few days ago and it was important one. He will be around six or eight weeks," he said.
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