Chelsea Forward Nicolas Jackson Targeted by Aston Villa

Chelsea are braced to lose one of their main forwards before the transfer window shuts – and the destination could hand a direct Premier League rival a serious shot in the arm.

Aston Villa, reeling from a bruising start to the season and a flurry of departures, have turned to Nicolas Jackson as the man to steady their attack. With the clock ticking, the Chelsea striker has moved to the very top of Unai Emery’s wishlist.

Villa under pressure, Chelsea ready to deal

Villa’s summer has emptied the dressing room faster than anyone at the club would have liked. Several exits have been pushed through in recent weeks, leaving Emery with gaps all over his squad and little time to fill them.

Then came Brighton. A 4-0 defeat on the opening weekend didn’t just sting; it underlined the urgency. Villa’s board now know they can’t drift through the final days of the window. They have to act.

Up front, the situation is especially delicate. According to CaughtOffside, Villa’s priority is a replacement for Ollie Watkins, who is pushing for a move to the Saudi Pro League. Losing their main striker this late in the window would be a huge blow. Doing so without a ready-made successor would be reckless.

Villa have already tested the market. A bid went in for Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Palace knocked it back. The Frenchman remains on their radar, yet he looks more like a Plan B than the centrepiece of Emery’s rebuild.

Jackson talks accelerate

The focus has swung firmly to Jackson. Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reported that Villa have tabled a €70 million offer for the 23-year-old, and the deal has moved quickly. Jackson is described as “on the verge” of accepting the move.

There is still work to do. Chelsea and Villa must finalise the details, and the player’s contract and personal terms need to be agreed. Inside Villa Park, though, there is confidence. Aouna notes that Villa’s wage structure can comfortably absorb Jackson’s salary, removing one of the biggest late-window obstacles.

For Jackson, the pull is obvious. This is not just a Premier League move; it is a reunion. Emery was the coach who handed him his first-team debut at Villarreal, and the chance to work again under a manager who trusts him carries real weight.

A deal that suits all three parties

Chelsea, juggling their own squad reshaping, appear open to a sale at the right price. Villa, desperate for a reliable No 9 as the Watkins situation rumbles on, see Jackson as their ideal solution. The player wants the move.

All the incentives are aligned. With the deadline looming and pressure rising on both clubs for very different reasons, this is a transfer that looks ready to move from negotiation to completion at speed.

If Villa get it done, they won’t just have a new striker. They’ll have one who knows Emery, trusts his methods, and arrives with a point to prove in the Premier League.