Juventus have begun transfer discussions with the representatives of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, as the Italian giants weigh up a potential summer bid.
The 23-year-old Senegalese striker joined Chelsea from Villarreal in 2023 for £32 million. Despite showing promise during his time at Stamford Bridge, his performances have been inconsistent, and his temperament has raised concerns among fans and pundits.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is overseeing an active transfer window, with the arrival of young forward Liam Delap from Ipswich already increasing competition in the striker department.
The Blues are also reportedly in the market for another centre forward, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike previously linked before talks collapsed over the German club’s asking price.
Juventus have now expressed interest in Jackson and have contacted his agents to explore a possible deal. Napoli are also monitoring the situation but are prioritising a move for Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.
Jackson’s future comes under further scrutiny following his sending-off in Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Flamengo at the FIFA Club World Cup.
The striker received a straight red card just four minutes after coming off the bench for a reckless studs-up tackle on Ayrton Lucas.
This marked Jackson’s second red card in four games, following his previous dismissal against Newcastle in the Premier League.
In a public apology on Instagram, Jackson wrote:
“I want to say sorry to the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching. I let you down.
Another red card… and honestly, I’m so angry at myself.
It wasn’t intentional, just a moment in football that went the wrong way. No excuses. I take full responsibility. I’ll reflect, I’ll grow, and I’ll come back stronger.”
Head coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged the impact of Jackson’s sending-off, saying:
“Those six minutes completely changed the dynamic of the game.
I’m not 100% sure it was a red card, but the referee made the call. Nico knows both situations weren’t good for the team.”
Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella also weighed in:
“He’s a young player with a lot of quality. He just needs to improve this part of his game. We all make mistakes it’s part of football.”
With Juventus considering a move and Chelsea open to reshaping their attacking line, Jackson could be on his way out just two years after arriving in West London.
While Napoli remain in the frame, the Bianconeri appear to be leading the race as they look to reinforce their frontline ahead of the new Serie A season.
