Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is a big talking point in England right now, with his future at Stamford Bridge currently in doubt.
Jackson has been Chelsea‘s first-choice striker for the last two seasons. However, the 24-year-old now appears to have lost that status.
This summer, the Blues have signed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, and Enzo Maresca went with the former in his side’s final two games of the Club World Cup.
It proved to be the right decision, as Pedro scored two goals in the semi-finals before netting in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. Emile Heskey had doubts about Pedro, but the Brazilian has quickly quashed them.
Photo by Carmen Mandato – FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesCraig Burley suggests Nicolas Jackson is ‘more rounded’ than Rasmus Hojlund
Ex-Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley is one person who has been discussing Jackson, with the Senegal international being linked with a move to Manchester United.
United have Rasmus Hojlund, who cost the club £72m, as their main striker option. Burley is not sure if he is as complete as Jackson but does not think that the Chelsea star is the answer to Ruben Amorim’s problems.
Speaking about the two forwards on ESPN FC, Burley said: “You could argue Nicko Jackson is a bit more rounded with more experience than Rasmus Hojlund. But if that’s where United are going now because there’s nobody else and throwing bad money after bad money, what’s the point in that?”
While United are thought to have an interest in Jackson, it has been widely reported that Chelsea have Alejandro Garnacho on their radar.
The possibility of a Jackson and Garnacho swap deal has not been ruled out.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty ImagesPundit warns Manchester United not to sign Nicolas Jackson, explains why
Burley is not the only ex-footballer who thinks United signing Jackson would be a bad idea.
Retired Scotland international Alan Brazil cannot see such a move working out, sharing his concerns about Jackson’s finishing.
When Brazil spoke about the Jackson and United rumours mid-week, he said: “He can’t finish, or he can finish, but he needs four chances to score.
“I was going to say he’d get more chances [at United], but he wouldn’t. Chelsea are a better side than Man United, so I don’t see it working. You never know and I wish him well, but I don’t see it working.”
Moving to United or another club this summer may be the best thing for the former Villarreal man, though. If Pedro maintains the form that he showed at the Club World Cup, then Jackson is going to find it difficult to reclaim his spot in Maresca’s team.