The Premier League is awash with talent. It attracts some of the world’s best footballers and managers, who all want a chance to test themselves in what has become the sport’s most hotly contested battleground.
This summer, London-based club Chelsea signed striker Nicolas Jackson. His arrival has gone under the radar somewhat, given Chelsea’s massive outlay on players, but many experts have high hopes for Jackson and believe he could turn out to be one of the best strikers in the league. Are they right? Find out here.
Who is Nico Jackson?
Nico Jackson is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward. He most often plays as a central striker but can also play in left- and right-wing positions.
The 22-year-old began his career with Casa Sports in his native Senegal. In 2019, he was scouted and eventually signed by La Liga side Villareal. He was then loaned out to second-division side Mirandes, where he remained for the 2020/21 season.
He was recalled to Villareal for the 2021/22 season, where he played in the B team until making his eventual first-team debut in October in a game against Real Betis. From that point on, Jackson made 47 appearances for Villareal, netting 13 goals and bagging six assists.
Jackson is highly regarded for his instinctive scoring prowess, as well as for his pace and power. He is good with the ball at his feet too, an important attribute in modern strikers and likely the reason why he was on the radar of so many clubs.
Villareal and Bournemouth agreed a £22.5 million deal for Jackson in January 2023. However, Jackson failed his medical due to a hamstring problem and the deal fell through.
The Switch to Chelsea
Despite the setback with the Bournemouth transfer, Jackson remained a top target for many clubs. Good strikers are hard to come by, and players as young as Jackson always have high sell-on potential.
Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world. They are always strong favourites for domestic and international competitions, click here to see for yourself.
However, Chelsea has been through a turbulent time over the past 12 months. A change in ownership has led to chaos on the field, and Chelsea finished last season in 11th place despite spending significantly more than any other club in the league.
Last month, Chelsea announced another summer signing in Nico Jackson. He joined the club along with Moises Caciedo, Axel Disasi, Robert Sanchez, and Christopher Nkunku.
According to reports, Chelsea paid more than the quoted £30 million release clause for Jackson, apparently to secure more generous repayment conditions, in what cynics might say is a covert attempt to skirt financial fair play rules.
How Has Jackson Performed at Chelsea?
We’re only one game into the season, so it’s impossible to make judgements about any player, but we can look at how Jackson has performed so far to make a prediction about how he could fare as we head into the future.
Chelsea’s opening day fixture was at home to Liverpool, a game which ended 1 – 1. Jackson started the game and troubled Liverpool’s backline with his pace and movement. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he helped his team secure a decent result as they look to right the wrongs of last season.
Jackson impressed during preseason. He played every game, scoring two goals, but his work off the ball was of particular note. He’s a player who covers a lot of ground, even helping out defensively, using his power and strength to make key tackles and interceptions.
Crucially, manager Pochettino has publicly spoken of his faith in Jackson. However, given that he is the club’s only fit and available striker, this may have been out of necessity rather than genuine sentiment.
Could He Be One of the Premier League’s Best?
Could Nico Jackson be one of the Premier League’s best strikers? It’s a big challenge, but it would appear he certainly has the talent, work ethic, and determination to do so.
However, there are plenty of incredible strikers in the Premier League, so the competition is fierce. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goalscoring sensation, looks completely unstoppable. If Jackson is to take Haaland’s crown, he’s going to have to do something truly incredible.
It’s not just Haaland he has to contend with, he’ll also be up against Gabriel Jesus, Ivan Toney, and Callum Wilson. Could Jackson beat them all? Only time will tell.
Conclusion
Jackson’s arrival at Chelsea flew under the radar, but the player has quickly been generating a lot of excitement. Fans will be watching closely to see if he can indeed become one of the best strikers in the league.
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