Maresca speaks on Jackson’s Chelsea future

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has refused to rule out the possibility of Nicolas Jackson leaving Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window

Newcastle are reportedly interested in the 24-year-old forward, after Manchester United hijacked the Magpies' bid to sign striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

If they are to sell, Chelsea would be targeting a transfer fee of at least double the £32m they paid Villarreal for Jackson in 2023.

When asked whether Jackson could leave Chelsea this summer, Maresca said: "When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico's situation.

"At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao [Pedro] and Liam [Delap]. So we will see what happens."

Joao Pedro joined from Brighton during the Club World Cup for an initial £55m and scored three goals in three games, including a strike during the 3-0 win against Paris St-Germain in the final, while Delap joined in a £30m move from Ipswich and also featured in the United States.

Jackson's Club World Cup campaign was affected by his dismissal in the group match win over Flamengo, but Chelsea's valuation of over £65m is benchmarked against the Senegal international's 10 goals and five assists in 30 league games last season, following 14 goals and five assists in 35 games during his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.

Jackson also signed a nine-year contract until 2033 in September 2024.