Manchester United have taken the first steps in their pursuit of newly established forward target Nicolas Jackson.
The Red Devils have faced a summer of setbacks in their centre-forward search thus far after witnessing the likes of Liam Delap, Viktor Gyokeres and even Hugo Ekitike all opt for moves elsewhere, leaving INEOS floundering over who they can sign to bolster Ruben Amorim’s depleted ranks in time for 2025/2026 kicking off.
Alas, recent developments with their rivals over at Stamford Bridge have prompted United to test Chelsea’s resolve for Jackson, who’s set to be made available if the right offer arrives.
Why United have deemed Nicolas Jackson an attainable target
Jackson signed from Villarreal in 2023 for just over his £31 million release clause. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Jackson now faces an uncertain future with the Blues – despite signing only two years ago and being Enzo Maresca’s first-choice up front last term – following the arrivals of both Delap and Joao Pedro, the latter of which hit the ground running in a Chelsea shirt by scoring a brace on his debut in the Club World Cup semi-final before adding to his account with a goal in their final triumph over Paris Saint-Germain.
As a result, the Senegal international now finds himself out of favour, and, on the cusp of a new season getting underway, that’s the last thing a player wants to be navigating.
Reds make first move in pursuit of Jackson
It remains to be seen how a deal could materialise given United’s lack of funds. However, that hasn’t stopped them from making their initial approach; BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella has revealed the Reds have now ‘held talks’ with Jackson’s representative to gauge the feasibility of him making an Old Trafford switch in the coming weeks.
Kinsella adds that while there has to be movement in the outgoings department for United, their prospective acquisition of the 24-year-old is ‘one that could happen in the right circumstances’.
Jackson, whom Joe Cole and Peter Crouch hailed as an ‘unbelievable’talent, has notched 30 goals and 12 assists in 81 appearances for Chelsea and is contracted to the London outfit until 2033.
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