Due to injuries to their main striker, Gerard Moreno, Jackson emerged as Villarreal's leading scorer in the 2022-23 season, netting 12 goals in 26 La Liga matches. Although he is contracted to Villarreal for another three years, his remarkable performances have attracted interest from the Premier League, including former Villarreal manager Unai Emery, now at Aston Villa.
While Aston Villa can offer Europa Conference League football for the upcoming season, Chelsea's financial power may give them an advantage in securing Jackson's signature. Chelsea, despite finishing 11th in the Premier League, will not have European football at Stamford Bridge next season.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea has made significant progress in the pursuit of Jackson by agreeing to personal terms with the young forward. Additionally, Jackson's contract with Villarreal includes a release clause of €35m (£29.9m), and Chelsea is now working on reaching an agreement with the Spanish club.
Jackson joined Villarreal's academy in 2019 and was officially promoted to the senior team last year, although he had already made appearances for the first team during the 2021-22 season.
Despite struggling with a hip injury last season, Jackson had an excellent finish to the campaign, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in Villarreal's last eight La Liga matches. His performances earned him a call-up to the Senegal national team for the World Cup, where he made his senior debut as a substitute against the Netherlands. While he can play on either wing, Jackson primarily operated as a central striker last season, and Chelsea is reportedly prioritizing the acquisition of a new number nine during the summer transfer window.
