Aston Villa are in negotiations with Chelsea over a deal for Nicolas Jackson, with the Villains exploring a club-record package around the Blues’ £65 million valuation.
This pursuit comes amid a shifting landscape at Villa Park, where talisman Ollie Watkins is getting closer to joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Watkins’ possible departure may have opened the doors to signing Jackson, but it does not fully explain Villa’s interest in the Senegalese.
Having unlocked the striker’s potential during their time together at Villarreal, Emery knows how Jackson’s movement can stretch defences and add a different dimension to Villa’s attack.
But before the Basque manager can put that familiarity to use again, Villa must first agree a deal with Chelsea.
Aston Villa’s pursuit of Jackson has already taken a few turns, with the deal depending on far more than Chelsea’s asking price.
Villa have stepped up their efforts to land Jackson at Villa Park, with club-to-club talks progressing independently of Watkins’ situation as they explore a deal around the £65 million valuation.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are also keeping tabs on the striker. Still, Jackson’s existing bond with Emery and willingness to remain in the Premier League gives Villa an upper hand in the race.
However, reaching an agreement with Chelsea is unlikely to be straightforward. The challenge is not simply agreeing on a fee but working through the financial complications behind the deal.
With several recent deals between Chelsea and Aston Villa, both clubs have to observe UEFA’s financial regulations.
UEFA closely monitors transfers between clubs within 45 days as such deals face scrutiny over whether they are genuinely separate transactions or part of an arrangement to work around financial rules.
It leaves Villa balancing several financial considerations, with Watkins’ deal remaining the decisive domino.
Nicolas Jackson’s Villarreal experience makes him an Emery target
Jackson’s stint at Villarreal marked the beginning of his transition towards becoming a frontline striker.
After joining the Yellow Submarines in 2019 and being loaned to Mirandes, Jackson returned to the club when Emery was in charge.
Emery gave the 20-year-old Jackson his first-team debut in October 2021 vs Real Betis.
More importantly, Emery helped reshape the way Jackson approached his game.
Jackson initially saw himself as a creative No. 10 or a false nine who liked to drift away from the box.
Emery, however, saw potential in Jackson to become a traditional No. 9.
He changed Jackson’s approach, encouraging him to stay higher, spend more time in the box and attack the space behind the defence rather than constantly dropping deep to get involved in build-up.
Although Jackson’s breakthrough season in La Liga came after Emery departed Villarreal, the shift towards the striker he is today began under the current Villa boss.
That role change helps explain the kind of striker Jackson has become and why his profile appeals to Emery at Villa.
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Nicolas Jackson’s player profile: Style of play, strengths and tactical role
Judging Jackson solely by his viral missed chances overlooks what makes him a difficult striker to defend against.
Jackson is a modern, versatile forward whose movement can create problems for a defence before he even gets a shot away.
Physically, the Senegalese combines strength with a sharp burst of acceleration, allowing him to hold off defenders and attack the space behind them.
He is not a striker who relies on pace to stretch defences, though.
While Jackson likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender and test centre-backs with his pace, his link-up play is more developed than his reputation suggests.
He can drop towards midfield, use his strength to hold off pressure and bring his teammates into play before moving into the channels and pulling defenders out of position.
His value comes from the way he constantly disrupts the opponent’s defensive shape.
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How Nicolas Jackson fits Unai Emery’s Aston Villa tactics
Emery does not view his centre-forward as an isolated figure in his team but as part of a wider attacking structure.
He wants a striker who can adapt to different situations of the game, and Jackson has the qualities to play that role.
In Emery’s structured build-up, Jackson’s movement could be key to creating space for other Villa attackers.
By constantly threatening to run beyond the opposition’s centre-backs, Jackson can force defensive lines deeper and open space for Villa’s creative midfielders to receive the ball and influence the game.
With Villa reshaping their wide options, including Alejandro Garnacho and interest in Rafael Leao, Jackson could provide the link between the flanks and the centre.
Jackson could also give Villa a more direct threat when they win the ball back.
He thrives on counter-attacks, using his pace to catch defenders before they can recover rather than relying on a long spell of possession to create an opening.
Jackson’s willingness to press from the front gives Emery a striker who can disrupt opponents when Villa lose the ball and help turn those recoveries into attacks.
