Aston Villa Eye Nicolas Jackson as Key Forward

Chelsea are braced to lose one of their main forwards before the transfer window slams shut – and the destination would hand a direct Premier League rival a serious shot in the arm.

Aston Villa, under growing pressure and short on time, have put Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson at the very top of their late-window wishlist as they scramble to reshape Unai Emery’s squad.

Villa in a race against time

The final days of the window are chaotic every year, but Villa’s position feels especially tight. A stream of departures, many of them in recent weeks, has stripped depth from Emery’s options and left the recruitment team with precious little room for error or delay.

The 4-0 thrashing by Brighton on the opening weekend only sharpened the mood. That defeat did not just dent confidence; it underlined, in brutal fashion, how urgently Villa need reinforcements in key areas.

Front and centre is the centre-forward position. According to CaughtOffside, Villa’s priority is to secure a replacement for Ollie Watkins, who is pushing for a move to the Saudi league. Losing their main goalscorer this late in the window would be a major blow – unless they can land a ready-made successor.

Jackson moves to the front of the queue

Villa initially turned to Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and lodged a bid, but Palace knocked it back. The Frenchman now looks more like a backup option than the man to lead the line.

Attention has swung firmly to Jackson.

Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna reported this afternoon that Villa have submitted a €70 million offer for the Chelsea forward, and that Jackson is “on the verge” of accepting the move. The deal has accelerated quickly, with both clubs aware of the ticking clock.

There is still work to do. Aouna notes that Villa and Jackson’s camp must finalise contract details and personal terms, but the Midlands club are understood to have enough flexibility in their wage structure to accommodate the striker and push the transfer over the line.

Emery reunion driving the move

One factor weighs heavily in Villa’s favour: Emery himself. Jackson is believed to be keen on reuniting with the coach who handed him his first-team debut at Villarreal. That early trust left a mark, and the chance to work again under a manager he knows – and who knows him – is a powerful pull.

From Chelsea’s perspective, a sizeable fee and a clean exit for a player who still divides opinion would free up space and funds for their own late business. For Villa, Jackson would be a headline arrival at a moment of real need. For the player, it offers a central role and a familiar face in the dugout.

On paper, it fits all three parties. Now the question is simple: can they get it done before the window slams shut – and how much stronger will Villa look if they do?