Jackson decides to stay! Senegalese striker ready to fight for his place under Xabi Alonso

Nicolas Jackson is open to staying at Chelsea and fighting for a spot in the squad under new head coach Xabi Alonso.

Details: According to The Sun, despite serious interest from Aston Villa and one of Spain's top clubs, the 25-year-old Senegalese forward prefers to remain at Stamford Bridge and prove his worth. However, the final decision rests with the club: the striker's future will depend on the role Alonso offers him.

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The summer saga around Jackson reached its boiling point: first, he was left out of the preseason tour to Australia and Asia, then he eventually joined the team in Sydney, and Chelsea valued him at £65 million. Unai Emery's Aston Villa, with the coach knowing the player from their Villarreal days, held intense negotiations and came close to sealing a deal, but the player himself chose a different path.

Last season Jackson spent on loan at Bayern, and since joining Chelsea in 2023, he has played nearly a hundred matches for the club. In the 2024/25 campaign, he scored 17 goals in 44 games—more than Didier Drogba managed in his debut year in London. Transfermarkt values the Senegalese forward at €40 million, and if Alonso gives him the nod, Jackson has everything it takes to reclaim his status as Chelsea's leading striker.

Reminder: A familiar coach is calling. Jackson is close to a Premier League return