The Toffees were said to be interested in the Senegal forward and to be planning a move when the winter window opened, according to a 16 December Mail Plus report. However, while Bournemouth ultimately prevailed at the time, his move to the Vitality fell through.
Now, despite continued attention from Goodison Park and Villa Park, it’s the struggling West London giants who have gotten the jump, agreeing to personal terms with the 21-year-old, though there hasn’t yet been a deal between the clubs.
Jackson, a 21-year-old striker, has agreed to personal terms, and Chelsea is debating whether to activate his £30 million release clause, according to Jacob Steinberg in The Guardian.
The Senegal international was being followed by Aston Villa and Everton after failing a medical at Bournemouth in January, but Chelsea’s interest has grown as a result of recent talks with the player’s camp.
If Chelsea met Jackson’s release clause, “securing a deal for Jackson would be simple, though they could still look to negotiate a lower price with Villarreal.”
The ship sailed.
Nobody would deny Everton’s need for a striker during this transfer window, but the same could be said during the January window as well.
Jackson was one of several links, and Goodison even offered large sums of money to help, but nobody showed up, and a proposal of £31 million for Beto of Udinese was rejected [Gianluca Di Marzio via Sky Sports News, 31 January].
While Sean Dyche just managed to retain Everton in the Premier League, it is doubtful that that amount of money would be available this summer given the board turmoil and the suspected profit and sustainability violation by the Premier League.
One of those strikers that might be appealing alternatives for the Toffees is Villarreal’s striker, who scored 12 La Liga goals in the just concluded season.
Nevertheless, it appears that he will go elsewhere despite Everton’s long-standing interest in him.
Even while the Chelsea agreement isn’t finalised yet, it seems to be available for them to complete if they so want, whereas progress at Goodison Park may be hampered by obstacles related to the departing board and the incoming investors MSP Sports Capital.
To improve a team that has struggled for two seasons in a row, there will be plenty of work to be done in the transfer market, but as time passes without offers being made, targets will get tougher to come by.