On Monday, AS reported it’s a matter of hours before Chelsea agree personal terms with Villarreal star Nicolas Jackson, and he’s expected to travel to London this week to carry out medical tests with the Premier League side.
There are ‘fewer and fewer doubts’ that Chelsea will be the 22-year-old’s next destination.
That’s according to Sport on Tuesday, who state the west London club still have to close a ‘couple of pending fringes’ with the La Liga side to complete the forward’s signing.
The Senegal international has a €35m release clause, but it’s now stated the Blues don’t intend to sign him by exercising the clause.
The newspaper makes it clear that Mauricio Pochettino’s side aren’t aiming to reduce the price but will try ‘another payment method’ to secure the player’s services. This is likely a plan to spread the €35m fee over the next few years rather than paying in one go.
Sport say Jackson ‘will play for Chelsea next season’ and his move to Stamford Bridge is set to go through the ‘last fringes’.
Meanwhile, Villarreal president Fernando Roig Negueroles has told AS about his side’s need to sell to balance their books.
“The salary level is higher than we can afford. Either we play Champions League or it is complicated,” he said.
“We don’t want to do anything drastic, we won’t make many changes. But if we do not lower the wage bill, we are obliged to make an accounting profit through sales. It’s not the ideal situation, since being bound by something is never good.”
AS stated Jackson could help Villarreal fetch €40m and then asked Villarreal’s president what it means to him.
Responding to that, Negueroles explained: “He has great potential and he may be worth €80m in the future. Now it’s the contract that he has and the clause that he has, and I don’t think that amounts like that should be underestimated.”
Jackson managed 13 goals and five assists from 38 games last season.
