Manchester United to sign Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson for £100 million if Viktor Gyokeres transfer deal fails?

Amidst uncertainties over the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres, Manchester United are now reportedly considering signing an unsettled striker from a Premier League rival. Although they are still tracking Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, and Genk's Tolu Arokodare, Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson also stands a realistic chance of becoming a Red Devil this summer, according to reports.

 

Nicolas Jackson unhappy at Chelsea?

 

Senegalese Jackson, 24, is concerned about his chances of making Chelsea's starting eleven following the arrivals of Liam Delap from Ipswich and João Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion. 

 

Earlier, some reports had claimed that Jackson's worry about losing his starting slot to the fresh recruits was not unfounded. He is not an 'untouchable' at Chelsea, and the London club has included him among the ten players available for transfer this summer.

ALSO READ | Bayern Munich find Jamal Musiala replacement in Chelsea outcast: Report

While not a goal machine of Ollie Watkins', Erling Haaland's, or Alexander Isak's calibre, Jackson has registered 30 goals and 12 assists from 81 games across all competitions for Chelsea. Manchester United reportedly feel that his proven experience in the Premier League is not something to be overlooked.

 

Jackson, who joined Chelsea from Villarreal in a £32 million deal in July 2023, was also tracked by AC Milan. While they have not pulled out of the race, Chelsea are likely to demand as much as £100 million for their young striker, who is contracted until 2033, as reported by TeamTalk. The report added that it remains unclear what has given Enzo Maresca's team the confidence to almost double the asking price for their African talent.

ALSO READ | Ibrahima Konate wants Real Madrid, defender tells Liverpool to sell his this summer if they want transfer money: Report

 

Although AC Milan and Chelsea share good relations, the asking price is deemed too high for the Serie A side, who are likely to bargain for a loan deal instead. In United's case, Gyökeres will not come cheaply anyway, meaning they are not necessarily looking for a low-cost acquisition. Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony are all reportedly up for sale, which would inject money directly into the transfer market. However, it remains to be seen if the Chelsea man will be preferred over the other potential strikers.

 

Viktor Gyökeres transfer saga

 

Swedish striker Gyökeres, who reportedly decided to ditch his former manager Rúben Amorim for Europe-bound Arsenal, was forced into a U-turn due to disagreements between the Londoners and his current employers, Sporting. The Lisbon team's asking price is reportedly at least £6 million more than Arsenal's stated budget, thus stalling the deal.

 

An angry Gyökeres has apparently 'burned all bridges' with his current team, refusing to show up for training. However, should the deal ultimately break down, the 27-year-old will reportedly agree to a reunion with his former manager at the Theatre of Dreams. If Manchester United receive a green light from him, all other contenders, including Jackson, can bid farewell to their hopes of getting a call from Old Trafford.

Sports