Kevin Hatchard has warned Chelsea that Tottenham Hotspur transfer target and Villarreal star Nicolas Jackson could prove to be a ‘risky’ signing.
Despite interest from the likes of Tottenham, it has been suggested that Mauricio Pochettino could be closing in on his first signing as Chelsea boss by bringing in the 21-year-old.
But European football expert Hatchard claimed that Nicolas Jackson was ‘very, very good’ for Villarreal during the final few months of the season and he ‘certainly’ has the skill set to compete in the Premier League, but only as a squad player, at the moment, as he told talkSPORT.
There’s no doubt that there is huge potential at Jackon’s feet and whether it’s Chelsea, Tottenham or his former manager Unai Emery who wants him at Aston Villa, he will lift fans off their seat.
If it so happens to be that he moves to Stamford Bridge, then he will join a list of star-studded names and big potential players, so he better not get swallowed up.
That’s probably why some will argue that he is probably better off at a Spurs or Villa, but nonetheless, this is what European expert Hatchard made of the player and how he went from being linked to Bournemouth to the top teams in the Premier League.
“He scored 11 goals in the last ten games of the season,” said Hatchard. “That doesn’t do any harm. He has been very, very good for Villarreal in the last few months.
“He is somebody who fits into the profile of what Chelsea are trying to do, in that signing young players with potential. But he hasn’t had a long track record at senior level and you are asking him a lot to make that jump up to the Premier League.
“Does he have the skill set? Certainly. He is somebody who can run in-behind. He is quick, but he can drop and link the play as well. He is just over 6ft, so he is somebody that can compete in the air too. He has a lot to learn. If you bring him in as a squad player, then he is somebody who can compete, it makes sense.
“But if you are saying ‘right, you are our new centre-forward’, then that’s a bit of a risk.”
Jackson is worth the risk
At only 21, and with his skill set, Jackson is worth the risk and someone who might just blossom into a top, top quality player.
During the recently-concluded La Liga season, both he and Villarreal had a mixed time, which included the exit of Emery to Villa, but he still managed 12 goals from his 26 games.
It’s understandable if an offer was put on the table from a Premier League club that, not only Jackson would find it hard to turn down, but so will Villarreal from a financial perspective.
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