Chelsea Forward Nicolas Jackson Linked with Aston Villa Move

Chelsea are braced to lose one of their main forwards before the transfer window slams shut – and the destination could hand a major advantage to a direct Premier League rival.

Aston Villa, bruised and short on time, have turned their attention firmly to Nicolas Jackson as they scramble to reshape Unai Emery’s attack.

Villa in a race against the clock

The final days of the window have thrown Villa into a high‑stakes scramble. A stream of departures in recent weeks has stripped depth from Emery’s squad, leaving the club with a shrinking window to plug glaring gaps.

Then came the 4-0 opening‑day beating by Brighton. That result didn’t just sting; it underlined, in brutal fashion, how urgently Villa need reinforcements. The pressure on the board spiked. So did the need for a new No 9.

Ollie Watkins is pushing for a move to the Saudi Pro League, and Villa have been working through their shortlist. A bid went in for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Palace knocked it back, and the Frenchman has always looked more like a contingency plan than the headline act.

The real focus is Jackson.

€70m move on the table

According to CaughtOffside, securing a replacement for Watkins is now Villa’s absolute priority, and Jackson sits at the top of that list.

Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reported on Wednesday afternoon that Villa have submitted a €70 million offer for the Chelsea striker, with Jackson described as “on the verge” of accepting the move.

The framework is there, but the deal is not done yet. Aouna notes that the two clubs and the player still need to finalise contract details and personal terms. Inside Villa’s wage structure, though, there is believed to be enough flexibility to accommodate Jackson and push the transfer over the line.

From Jackson’s side, the attraction is obvious. This is a chance to reunite with Emery, the coach who trusted him early and handed him his first‑team debut at Villarreal. The relationship is already built; the belief is already there.

Chelsea, for their part, appear open to a sale at the right price. With Villa desperate, Jackson keen, and the London club willing to negotiate, the ingredients are in place for a rapid conclusion.

If Villa get their man and Watkins heads for Saudi Arabia, the balance of power in the race for European spots could shift again – and Chelsea may soon find one of their own leading the line for a rival with serious ambitions.