Aston Villa have been told they will need to pay £60 million to sign long-term target Nicolas Jackson, according to French outlet RMC Sport. The Senegalese striker is expected to leave Chelsea this summer after Bayern Munich declined their option to sign him permanently at the end of his loan spell.
Bayern had the chance to sign Jackson for €65 million (£55 million) but opted against it, paving the way for a potential move elsewhere. RMC report that Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid are all interested in the 25-year-old's services.
Asking price a stumbling block
However, Chelsea's asking price is currently putting suitors off, with Villa initially considering a loan deal for the forward. The Blues are holding out for a fee in the region of £60 million, which is proving a significant obstacle for interested parties.
Jackson has been a consistent scorer in the Premier League, hitting double figures in both of his campaigns with Chelsea. He scored 14 goals in 2023/24 and followed that with 10 in 2024/25, demonstrating his ability at the top level of English football.
Villa's striking options
Villa are set to go into the new campaign with Ollie Watkins as their first-choice centre-forward once again. The England international remains the club's primary attacking option, with youngsters Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham also in the squad, although there are fitness concerns over both players.
Jackson is well known to Villa boss Unai Emery, having worked under him at Villarreal. That previous relationship could prove beneficial in any potential negotiation, but Chelsea will likely have to reduce their demands for Villa to firm up their interest.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining Jackson's future, with Villa monitoring the situation closely. Whether they are willing to meet Chelsea's valuation or look for alternatives remains to be seen, but the asking price is currently a significant barrier to any deal.
