Aston Villa have reportedly made a proposal to Nicolas Jackson as Napoli accelerate their own attempt to sign the Chelsea striker.
Villa’s interest in Jackson has existed throughout the summer, but the latest update represents a significant step beyond simply monitoring the 25-year-old.
Italian transfer reporting from Gianluca Di Marzio’s team states that Jackson has an Aston Villa proposal on the table, while Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna is working to move ahead of the competition.
Napoli have separately opened talks with Chelsea over a potential transfer.
Aston Villa step up Nicolas Jackson move
Read Aston Villa previously reported that Jackson remained a long-standing Villa target, although the club were initially assessing him as a contingency rather than actively pursuing another centre-forward.
That situation has changed as uncertainty around Ollie Watkins has increased.
Al-Hilal are expected to return after Villa rejected a £38million offer for Watkins, leaving Unai Emery needing to prepare for the possibility of losing his first-choice striker.
Jackson has now emerged as the clearest potential replacement.
Corriere della Sera’s transfer coverage, produced alongside Gianluca Di Marzio’s newsroom, reports that Jackson has a Villa proposal available to him, with Napoli trying to move quickly enough to beat Villa to his signature.
Importantly, that does not amount to confirmation of an accepted bid between Villa and Chelsea.
Chelsea’s demands would remain a major obstacle.
The Times reports that Jackson is valued at around £65million and is currently training away from Chelsea’s primary first-team group while his future is resolved. (thetimes.com)
Read Aston Villa has previously covered how Jackson’s situation evolved during pre-season, when there was still uncertainty over whether Chelsea would keep him.
The picture now looks considerably different.
Napoli entering talks increases the pressure on Villa if Emery has identified his former Villarreal forward as the player he wants should Watkins depart.
Villa’s interest is no longer merely a name on a contingency list.
A proposal is reportedly on the table, and another major European club is now attempting to get there first.
