Chelsea set £60m asking price for Nicolas Jackson amid transfer interest

Chelsea have set an asking price of £60m for Nicolas Jackson, a figure that could prevent Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid from completing a deal for the striker this summer.

According to Radio Monte Carlo, Chelsea are prepared to sell Jackson but will demand £60m before allowing the Senegal international to leave. All three clubs are interested in the 24-year-old, although the size of the fee is proving a significant obstacle.

Tottenham Hotspur could be one of the surprise teams of the new season. Their absence from European competition would allow them to concentrate fully on the Premier League, potentially making them a more difficult rival for Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

A move to Tottenham would therefore strengthen a direct domestic competitor, something Chelsea may have to consider before agreeing to a transfer.

Similar considerations apply to Aston Villa, although Unai Emery is expected to rely on Ollie Watkins as his main centre-forward for much of the upcoming campaign. Jackson’s arrival would nevertheless give Villa another option in attack and could increase competition for places.

Atletico Madrid presents a different possibility for Chelsea. The Spanish club would not pose a direct threat to Chelsea in domestic competition, making a move to Madrid arguably the most logical outcome from the London club’s perspective.

However, Atletico Madrid are likely to need Julian Alvarez to leave before they can commit £60m to Jackson. That dependency could delay negotiations until the final days of the transfer window, which is scheduled to close on 1 September.

There is also an argument that Chelsea would benefit from keeping Jackson at Stamford Bridge. He could provide cover for Joao Pedro, rather than the club having to rely on Danny Welbeck as the main alternative.

Jackson has struggled for consistency in front of goal, but he offers energy and movement in the final third. He is also capable of creating a considerable number of chances and producing shots in advanced areas, qualities that could still make him a useful member of Chelsea’s squad.

Welbeck may be the more technically polished player, but he is now 35 and there are concerns over whether he can maintain the speed and intensity required across an entire season.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso appears to have settled quickly into his new role at Stamford Bridge. He guided the club to a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday in their final friendly before the new Premier League season begins.

Chelsea are expected to start the campaign with an attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. Jamie Gittens, Estevao and Danny Welbeck are among the players who could provide alternative options.

That projected attacking group could leave Jackson struggling to secure a place in the squad for the new season. The striker spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, and his future now depends on whether Chelsea accept a reduced fee, retain him as a squad option or find a buyer willing to meet their £60m valuation.