Chelsea's new Nicolas Jackson asking price as figure takes big drop

Chelsea are prepared to let Nicolas Jackson go for a sum in the region of £50million, following his expressed desire to depart Stamford Bridge after two seasons. Since his transfer from Villarreal, Jackson has been the Blues' primary striker, but the recent arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, costing just under £100m, have shaken up the pecking order under Enzo Maresca.

Both new signings played pivotal roles in Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph, and it's become increasingly clear over the summer that Jackson is no longer the favoured choice. He was notably absent from Chelsea's pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, having been given permission to explore other opportunities.

Initially, the west London club had hoped to secure around £80m for their outgoing striker, but they've since lowered their expectations. The Times suggests they're now looking for a figure similar to the £52m they received for Noni Madueke.

This represents a significant reduction on their initial asking price, with Newcastle and Manchester United reportedly showing interest in the Senegalese international. Despite scoring 30 goals in his two seasons at Chelsea, Jackson only managed one goal in his last 15 Premier League appearances last season.

Despite this dip in form, he was awarded a contract extension last September, which runs until 2033. However, following a red card in Chelsea's Club World Cup group-stage match against Flamengo, Jackson hasn't featured for the club since.

Maresca remained tight-lipped about Jackson's future at Chelsea, sparking rumours that the player might not be central to his plans. He remarked: "When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico's situation. At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao [Pedro] and Liam [Delap]. So we will see what happens."

Chelsea are eyeing up talents like Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig and Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, though it's unclear if they'll secure both signatures. Jackson's departure could finance these acquisitions, but Newcastle's next steps could also play a role as they seek a new forward after missing out on Benjamin Sesko and are currently considering their alternatives.

Chelsea have until September 1 to complete all of their transfer business, with the capital club expected to complete several deals between now and then. Maresca's side begin their Premier League campaign at home to Crystal Palace next weekend.