Darren Bent makes bargain claim over Nicolas Jackson’s Aston Villa move

Former England international Darren Bent has praised Nicolas Jackson for his impressive performances at Aston Villa, describing the Senegalese striker as one of the bargains of the season following his excellent start under manager Unai Emery.

Jackson has enjoyed a remarkable revival since joining Villa, rediscovering his confidence and goalscoring touch after difficult spells at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

The 25-year-old has established himself as a key figure in Emery’s attacking setup, starting all nine of his Premier League appearances this season, scoring six goals and providing one assist.

His impressive form has also extended to the UEFA Champions League, where he has registered three goals in four appearances, further underlining his importance to Villa’s attacking ambitions.

Jackson’s resurgence has attracted considerable attention, particularly given the struggles he endured during his time at Chelsea and Bayern Munich. However, Bent believes Emery’s familiarity with the striker, dating back to their time together at Villarreal, has played a significant role in bringing out the best in him.

Speaking about the Senegal international’s transformation, Bent credited the Villa manager for understanding Jackson’s qualities and creating an environment in which he can flourish.

“I think the manager, Unai Emery, has a big part to play in that. He knows Jackson really well from Villarreal and really likes him. I always found it really bizarre that Chelsea let him go,” Bent said.

“I always thought Chelsea needed to keep hold of him because, yes, he might miss a lot of chances and he’s not the most prolific, but he always gets into the right positions. He always works hard, and that pace he’s got is always going to be a threat.”

“I think he’s been brilliant. I think, so far this season, you have to say Jackson’s been one of the bargains of the season, even though he’s on loan,” Bent added.

Jackson will now be hoping to maintain his impressive form when Aston Villa take on Sunderland in their next Premier League fixture.

A victory could move Emery’s side into the top six, providing another boost to their campaign after a difficult start to the season.

For Jackson, the immediate objective will be to continue delivering goals and performances as he looks to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most effective forwards this season.