Aston Villa Nears £65 Million Deal for Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson

Aston Villa is reportedly on the verge of finalizing a deal to acquire striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, with the transfer potentially reaching £65 million.

The agreement between the two clubs includes an initial payment of £47.5 million, supplemented by £17.5 million in performance-related add-ons. Jackson, who has netted eight goals in 37 appearances for Senegal and participated in the recent World Cup, is expected to discuss personal terms soon.

Should the transfer go through, it could set off a chain reaction, leading to England's Ollie Watkins moving to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Jackson, previously under Villa manager Unai Emery at Villarreal, would join a squad undergoing significant changes this summer, following the departures of several key players.

Villa's recent signings include record acquisition Johan Manzambi and midfielder Joao Gomes, while they have seen five starters from their Europa League-winning team leave the club. Chelsea, meanwhile, is considering its own roster adjustments, including the potential sale of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk