Chelsea's pursuit of highly-rated Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson has hit a significant and unexpected complication, The Mirror can reveal. The West London club, eager to bolster their attacking options, now faces a tense standoff with La Liga side Sevilla.
The crux of the issue lies in a previously undisclosed clause inserted into Jackson's original move from Senegal to Spain. It is understood that Sevilla, who initially scouted and signed the player, possess a potent 50% sell-on clause and, more critically, a first refusal option.
Sevilla's Secret Weapon
This clandestine agreement could allow Sevilla to swoop in and match any accepted offer Chelsea make to Villarreal. More dramatically, reports from Spain suggest the Andalusian club also holds a fixed-price buy-back clause, believed to be set at a mere €20 million (£17.1m).
This figure is drastically lower than the €35 million (£30m) release clause Chelsea are attempting to trigger. This gives Sevilla a monumental advantage, potentially enabling them to hijack the deal for almost half the price.
Chelsea's Striker Hunt Intensifies
The news comes as a major blow to Chelsea's transfer strategy under Todd Boehly. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has identified a new centre-forward as a top priority this summer, and the 21-year-old Jackson, who scored nine goals in his last eight games last season, is a primary target.
This setback forces the Blues to consider other options. The club retains a strong interest in RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku, but the Jackson deal was seen as a more immediate and financially viable solution. With Sevilla holding all the cards, Chelsea's hierarchy must now decide whether to negotiate a truce with the Spanish club or abandon the pursuit entirely.
The coming days will be crucial in a transfer saga that has taken a dramatic new turn, proving that in football, the finest print often holds the biggest surprises.
