£100m Chelsea player expected to seal “out of nowhere” exit by sources

Chelsea are listening to offers for many members of their bloated squad this summer.

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He’s determined to join Enzo Maresca’s side.

Yet more high-profile players could follow the likes of João Félix and Noni Madueke out of the Stamford Bridge exit door before deadline day on September 1, with Chelsea under some pressure from UEFA to balance out their incomings through outgoings.

The club struck an agreement with UEFA to do this, or risk not being able to register new signings in their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

This comes after Chelsea were fined for breaching FFP rules earlier this month, which is why sales will be crucial for BlueCo despite the club being in a pretty solid position when it comes to the Premier League’s separate PSR laws.

Chelsea have raised around £158 million through transfers already this summer, coming after Ishe Samuels-Smith sealed a £6.5 million move to sister club Strasbourg on Thursday.

The defender joins Felix, Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic and Mathis Amougou on Chelsea’s list of confirmed sales so far, but many more could still leave before the deadline.

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Tosin Adarabioyo, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Alfie Gilchrist and Nicolas Jackson have all been linked with exits at some point this summer, with Chelsea demanding a premium for the latter.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea value Jackson at up to £100 million, amid rumoured interest from Man United and other top clubs.

Chelsea sources expect Nicolas Jackson to seal ‘out of nowhere’ exit

Chelsea are not opposed to selling the Senegalese this summer, with Jackson enduring a torrid end to 2024/2025 despite scoring in the Conference League final against Real Betis.

He managed just one Premier League goal after the turn of the new year, spending some time on the sidelines through injury, and got sent off for a red card against Flamengo at the Club World Cup.

Journalist Simon Phillips has previously reported that Jackson’s agents are working to secure him a move elsewhere, and the same reporter has shared a fresh update via his Stamford Bridge sources.

Phillips writes that Chelsea insiders expect Jackson to seal an “out of nowhere” exit, and the former Villarreal star is now getting offers.

“SPTC sources heard just yesterday that ‘Jackson is getting offers’ now and this story is progressing. I still think he goes but again though, it’s not a dead cert that Chelsea replace him. But they will certainly explore options to do so and have a desire to do so.

“Our sources think a Jackson departure will come out of nowhere at this point.”

The 24-year-old has been linked not just to United, but a variety of Premier League sides.

It is believed by some that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is keen to work with Jackson again, coming after the pair’s time together in La Liga at Villarreal.

He could be an adept solution for sides desperate to sign a new centre-forward, but they’ll first have to get past Chelsea’s sky-high valuation.