Nicolas Jackson transfer news: Aston Villa interested in signing Chelsea striker after exploring conditions of deal
Aston Villa have explored the conditions of a deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson; the 24-year-old played under Villa head coach Unai Emery at Villarreal; Jackson told Chelsea this month that he wants to consider his options during the transfer window
Thursday 21 August 2025 18:47, UK
Nicolas Jackson will not be part of Chelsea's matchday squad for the trip to West Ham on Friday, amid interest from Aston Villa.
Blues boss Enzo Maresca confirmed the striker's absence in his press conference on Thursday morning.
"He [Jackson] is available, but he's not going to be part of the squad," Maresca said.
"We have two strikers, two players in that position and also we know something can happen before the transfer window closes.
"No idea [if a move away is close]. I prefer to be focused on training sessions and preparing for the game. I don't know."
- Transfer Centre LIVE! | Chelsea news & transfers🔵
- Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract📺
Villa are understood to have explored the conditions of a deal for the 24-year-old, who played under head coach Unai Emery at Villarreal.
Jackson told Chelsea earlier this month that he wants to consider his options during the transfer window. Chelsea signed strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer.
Jackson was absent from Chelsea's squad for friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan ahead of the Premier League season.
The striker served the final game of a suspension in Chelsea's first fixture of the season against Crystal Palace.
Jackson scored 13 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions last season, having netted 17 in 44 during his first year at the club.
Chelsea have sold a host of players this summer, with another nine likely to leave, while Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons top targets to bolster their attacking line.
Merse: This is not a good move for Chelsea
Sky Sports' Paul Merson on The Premier League Show:
"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. 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.
"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."
Could Isak hold key to Jackson future?
Latest from Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
Jackson's future will be resolved when it becomes clear whether Alexander Isak is staying at or leaving Newcastle United.
There are up to six clubs interested in signing Jackson and Chelsea are expecting significant bids when there is more clarity about Isak's future.
Aston Villa are one of the interested clubs, but it remains to be seen whether they would be able to afford the asking price.
Jackson's value will be determined by the market price paid for strikers by Premier League clubs this summer.
Chelsea close to selling Veiga to Villarreal
Latest from Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal to sell Renato Veiga to Villarreal in a deal expected to be worth £26m (€30m).
The defender joined Chelsea last summer from Basel for £12m on a contract until June 2031.
He scored two goals in 18 appearances before spending the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, where he played 15 times.
Veiga was also called up to the Portugal squad after signing for Chelsea and has earned five caps.
Fulham looking at Sterling
Latest from Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
Fulham are considering making a move to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea, but a deal appears unlikely at the moment.
Sterling is expected to leave Chelsea this summer after spending last season on loan at Arsenal.
He has been training away from the first-team squad and did not travel to the United States for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea signed him from Manchester City three years ago in a £47.5m deal and he has two years left on his contract.
Sterling has not played for Chelsea since he scored against Bournemouth in the final game of the 2023/24 season.
Chelsea transfers
In
Jamie Gittens - Dortmund, £51.5m
Joao Pedro - Brighton, £60m
Liam Delap - Ipswich, £30m
Jorrel Hato - Ajax, £38.5m
Estevao Willian - Palmeiras, £29m
Dario Essugo - Sporting, £18.5m
Mamadou Sarr - RC Strasbourg, £12m
Kendry Paez - Independiente del Valle, £17.3m
Out
Kendry Paez - Strasbourg, loan
Djordje Petrovic - Bournemouth, £25m
Bashir Humphrey - Burnley, undisclosed
Dylan Williams - Burton, undisclosed
Marcus Bettinelli - Man City, undisclosed
Kepa Arrizabalga - Arsenal, £5m
Teddy Sharman-Lowe - Bolton, loan
Mathis Amougou - Strasbourg, undisclosed
Zak Sturge - Millwall, undisclosed
Noni Madueke - Arsenal, £52m
Caleb Wiley - Watford, loan
Mike Penders - RC Strasbourg, loan
Joao Felix - Al Nassr, £43.7m
Ishe Samuels-Smith - Strasbourg, £6.9m
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - Everton, £29m
Mamadou Sarr - Strasbourg, loan
Leo Castledine - Huddersfield, loan
Lesley Ugochukwu - Burnley, undisclosed
Marc Guiu - Sunderland, loan
Armando Broja - Burnley, £20m
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games this season
From this season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season are on Sky Sports.
