Nicolas Jackson has been tipped for a move to Manchester United in the midst of his uncertainty in Chelsea after a series of new signing sessions – but the player himself struck back on suggestions that he broke the pecking order
Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson has insisted on “I don't have a competition” at Stamford Bridge while speculation connects him with a relocation of the club.
The attacker is strongly tipped for a move to Manchester United, which desperately seeks more firepower for the new season after Ruben Amorim became frustrated by a lack of clinical finishing of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
There have even been suggestions for a Swap deal between Chelsea and United for Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho, who fell with Amorim.
Jackson had a solid season for Chelsea previous term when he scored 10 times in the Premier League and ran another three goals in the UEFA Conference League – scoring in the final while the team defeated Real Betis with 4-1 – in Notching 13 in 37 games in all competitions.
But there are requirements of fans and experts for Jackson to score more goals and Jackson now seems to have lost the pecking order after Chelsea Ipswich striker Liam Delap had signed for £ 30 million and Joao Pedro from Brighton for £ 60 million, with the latter in their FIFA Club World Cup Triumph.
However, Jackson has now beaten the suggestion that the new signing sessions of the club meant that he had a struggle to be the first choice under Enzo Maresca and claimed that every player “plays his role”.
“Competition? I don't have competition,” he told DSports TV. “We are all there to help the club. Everyone has their role to play. I am on a mission. It is up to the coach to make his choices. I only concentrate on my work.”
Jackson was reluctant to his future and said he was focused on playing for Chelsea while things were and said he had no control over “changes” that could come.
“I am a Chelsea player,” he said. “The future belongs to God. If there are changes, you know. For now I am focused on my preparation. It is football, there are ups and downs. Last season we won two trophies. There were difficult moments, moments of glory. Every season is so. But the most important thing is to stay focused in the face of adversity.”
Jackson has yielded a total of 30 goals in 81 performances since he came to Chelsea for around £ 32 million from Villarreal in 2023, including 17 in his first season. Despite links to United, it is clear that the Red Devils have excluded a movement for Jackson because Chelsea demands between £ 80 million and £ 100 million – and have since jumped with a movement for Red Bull Leipziger Benjamin Sesko.
Mirror Football reported this week how Aston Villa -Spits Ollie Watkins had been the number 1 target of United above Jackson, because Ruben Amorim is looking for more proven experience in the Premier League, who have already signed Wingers Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
But with Villa who demands £ 60 million for the 29-year-old Watkins, United has given a priority to the signature of Sesko, given that he will cost about the same price, but represents a better price-quality ratio because he is five years younger.