Chelsea are set to raise around £100m in player sales as Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap close in on moves away from Stamford Bridge. Jackson and Delap have been training away from Chelsea’s first-team squad as both have been deemed surplus to requirements by Xabi Alonso.
Jackson set for Aston Villa move
Jackson showed some encouraging signs in his first season at Chelsea following a £32m move from Villarreal, scoring 17 goals in all competitions. But the Senegal striker failed to hit that figure in his following campaign and was then replaced by £60m signing Pedro.
Jackson joined Bayern Munich on loan last summer and hoped to earn a permanent move to the Allianz Arena. Bayern agreed to pay £70m for Jackson if he made a set number of appearances for the German champions but it quickly became apparent that the forward would fall well short of that mark.
As a result Jackson returned to west London at the end of the season and was said to be open to staying at Chelsea and fighting for a place in Alonso’s team. But Chelsea made it clear that they would prefer to offload Jackson again amid interest from several Premier League and European clubs.
Aston Villa are known admirers of Jackson and have stepped up their interest amid speculation linking Ollie Watkins with a move to Saudi Arabia. Watkins missed Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on Sunday after being the subject of multiple bids from Al Hilal. Aston Villa refused to sanction the England international’s exit before a replacement was signed but are now closing in on a deal for Jackson.
Foot Mercato say Chelsea are ‘on the verge’ of accepting a 70m euros (£60m) deal with Aston Villa, with Jackson ready to approve the transfer given his previous working relationship with Unai Emery.
Delap heading to Nottingham Forest
Jackson is not the only striker set to leave Chelsea, however, with Delap set to join Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £45m. Chelsea’s £30m deal for Delap this time last year was seen as a coup given he hit double figures for relegated Ipswich Town.
Manchester United and Newcastle United both expressed interest in signing Delap but Chelsea secured his services on a six-year deal. Delap will only reach one of those years, however, with Chelsea agreeing to sell him to Forest at a profit of £15m.
The 23-year-old endured a miserable year at Stamford Bridge, scoring just one goal in the Premier League, and has given the green light to a move to the City Ground.
Chelsea return to action on Thursday night, facing League One side Luton Town in the Carabao Cup, before a home match against Brighton this weekend.
