Nicolas Jackson's 'transfer price set' as Chelsea make call after 'stupidity'
Nicolas Jackson's availability status at Chelsea appears to have changed following Liam Delap's arrival and his latest red card picked up at the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Blues have a fee in mind
Nicolas Jackson is no longer considered to be 'untouchable' by Chelsea, who will reportedly consider offers between £47million and £51m for the forward. Jackson, 24, has had a mixed time at Stamford Bridge ever since his £32m arrival from Villarreal.
In the Blues' 3-1 defeat to Brazilian side Flamengo in the Club World Cup this week, Jackson infuriated fans by getting another straight red card within just four minutes of coming on as a substitute, after a reckless studs-up challenge on Ayrton Lucas.
It was the second time in four matches that the Senegalese international was dismissed, having been sent off for elbowing Sven Botman in Chelsea's damaging 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United back at the start of May.
Jackson had been considered as a long-term player to hold onto by the Chelsea board, but that status looks to have changed, especially with the recent arrival of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m. Juventus have reportedly held exploratory talks for the striker, who has 30 goals and 12 assists in 80 appearances in all competitions for the west Londoners.
And according to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues will expect a "high price", understood to be between £47m and £51m if they were to part with the centre-forward. However, it's also claimed that Italian clubs would try to barter Chelsea for a lower fee if they were to make a move.
He has a contract at Stamford Bridge which does not expire until 2033, which means the Blues are in a strong negotiating position. Meanwhile, Gianluca Di Marzio understands not only have Juventus made an approach for Jackson, but Serie A champions Napoli – managed by ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte – also hold an interest.
In Jackson's last four games, he has earned himself a straight red card against Newcastle United, scored in the Europa Conference League final, provided an impressive assist for Pedro Neto in Chelsea's 2-0 victory over LAFC at the Club World Cup and been handed a straight red against Flamengo.
That inconsistency could ultimately cost him his future at Chelsea, and Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer slammed Jackson's red card challenge against LAFC as "stupid" while speaking on the Rest is Football podcast. The Newcastle United legend said: "What was he thinking?
"It happened against Newcastle, I remember it really well. And then he made the apology, and then it happens again.
"He's not a youngster anymore. There's a time where you think, 'This is not acceptable.' That cannot happen again.
"If that happens once, okay, you say, 'Hands up,' he's made an error. But then it happens twice and you think, 'Is there an issue here? Is there a problem with his attitude or his mentality?'
"So this cannot happen again at Chelsea. He is 24, he's not a youngster, he's got to learn.'
Jackson will be absent from the Blues' make-or-break Club World Cup clash against Tunisian side Espérance Sportive de Tunis, being played at 2am Wednesday UK time, where Enzo Maresca's men must avoid defeat to progress.
He will also miss Chelsea's opening Premier League match of the 2025/26 campaign at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17 – that's if he's still at the club by then.
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