Arsenal have reportedly turned down the chance to sign Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, despite the Blues offering the 23-year-old to several Premier League rivals ahead of a likely summer departure from Stamford Bridge.
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea initially slapped an £80 million valuation on the Senegalese forward, a fee Arsenal were never going to entertain. The west Londoners have since lowered their asking price to around £60m, but the Gunners’ stance remains unmoved. Their focus is firmly on Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres, with Mikel Arteta determined to secure a single, decisive addition to lead the line rather than juggle multiple targets.
Jackson, who scored 14 goals in all competitions last season, has found himself at the centre of a developing tug-of-war elsewhere. Aston Villa and Newcastle United are now understood to be the frontrunners for his signature, with both clubs in the market for extra firepower before the new campaign.
Villa, fresh from snapping up Nice striker Evann Guessand, retain strong admiration for Jackson’s pace and movement but may need to sanction player sales to balance the books before making a concrete bid. That financial reality could leave Newcastle in pole position, particularly if Alexander Isak is sold before the window closes. The Magpies, who missed out on long-term target Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool and are watching Benjamin Šeško edge towards Manchester United, are desperate to avoid being left short up front.
For Chelsea, offloading Jackson would be a significant turnaround just 12 months after his £32m arrival from Villarreal. His mixed debut campaign flashes of promise tempered by inconsistency has prompted the club’s hierarchy to consider a refresh in their attacking options.
Arsenal’s refusal to engage suggests their recruitment drive will remain tightly focused, while the battle for Jackson’s services looks set to play out away from north London. With the transfer window far from its conclusion, Villa and Newcastle’s pursuit could yet turn into one of the summer’s more intriguing subplots.
READ MORE NICOLAS JACKSON TRANSFER RUMOURS:
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