Chelsea have agreed to activate the 35m euro release clause of Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson, with the Senegalese striker in line to become the Blues’ first signing of the summer.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have already agreed deals to sign Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig and Malo Gusto from Lyon this summer, but Jackson’s seemingly impending arrival will be the first of those which the new Chelsea boss has overseen since his arrival last month.
Jackson, who is likely to be the club’s major no.9 addition this summer after the likes of Victor Osimhen, Harry Kane and Randal Kolo-Muani were deemed too difficult to attain, scored 12 times last season in a breakout campaign with Villarreal, and there are several clubs thought to be keen on signing the 21-year-old this summer.
In what has become typical Chelsea fashion, the Blues are looking to pay the fee in installments rather than as a single fee if possible, which could even see them pay over the 35m euro fee that has been touted.
Jackson is expected to agree a contract in keeping with the long deals that have been handed out in recent months, with a deal well in excess of five years a likely option for the striker.
He is expected to be the first addition in a busy summer of both ins and outs for Chelsea. As things stand, they are set to lose all of Mason Mount (Manchester United), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Kai Havertz (Arsenal) and N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), perhaps even before July 1st.
