Aston Villa have reportedly made an enquiry for Villarreal attacker Nicolas Jackson, who has a €31 million release clause in his contract.
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for 21-year-old Senegalese attacker Nicolas Jackson in recent weeks. Now, according to Football Insider, the Villans have taken their first step and have “made an enquiry” for the Villarreal winger, as new boss Unai Emery looks to bolster his attacking options by raiding his former club.
The Villans are currently 12th in the Premier League table as it stands following an inconsistent start to the campaign, however, Unai Emery’s appointment has seen a new manager bounce and they will be looking to carry over that momentum in the second half of the season post the 2022 World Cup.
The Midlands outfit could be in for an active transfer window when the market re-opens in January as the recently-appointed manager looks to put his own stamp on the squad he has inherited at Villa Park.
He is going to use his expertise and contacts in Spain to strengthen his Villa team, and he might be interested in bringing some of his former players to the English shores next month.
Pau Torres, Yeremy Pino, and Samuel Chukwueze are just some of the Villarreal names linked with joining Emery at Villa. Nicolas Jackson is another player who has been on the Spaniard’s radar ever since he took over at Villa. It has been reported that Emery is keen to reunite with Jackson, as he wants an attacker who can play up front or on the flank.
Jackson only arrived in Europe in the summer of 2019 when Villarreal snapped him up for a pittance from Senegalese outfit Casa Sports, where he was playing regular first-team football at the age of 18.
He was initially viewed as raw and a work in progress and went into Villarreal’s B team before his impressive performances for the reserve side prompted Emery to promote him to the first team set-up last season.
So far this season, Jackson has earned a more prominent role, having scored three goals and assisted a further two in 19 appearances for the Yellow Submarine. He was also a part of the Senegal squad at the World Cup in Qatar; however, he featured in just 17 minutes of action against the Netherlands throughout the tournament.
He appears to have no shortage of suitors in the transfer market, especially in the Premier League. Everton, Bournemouth, and Newcastle United are all also said to be keen on making a move for Jackson in next month’s winter transfer window.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, could have an advantage over their rivals as they can offer him the prospect of reuniting with his former Villarreal manager, in addition to the financial package that the ambitious Villa owners have been more than willing to offer in recent times.
Similar to his compatriot Sadio Mane, Jackson is a fast, skilful forward with plenty of menace and trickery in his playing style, which could offer another dimension to a Villa attack that has looked flat at times this season.
While his current contract with Villarreal does not expire until 2026, Jackson has a €31 million release clause in his contract that, if triggered, would leave the Spanish club powerless to prevent the Senegalese from leaving the club.
