Southampton launch bid for £27m ace, he could be Saints’ Cody Gakpo

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Southampton have made a loan-to-buy bid for Villarreal and La Liga forward Nicolas Jackson but could face competition from Premier League rivals Everton, according to Tuttomercatoweb. 

Booed off by his own supporters following a 1-0 defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s. If Nathan Jones had expected a honeymoon period after taking over from Ralph Hasenhuttl on the banks of the Solent, then the furious reaction that greeted his fourth defeat in five games suggested that goodwill is already in short supply. 

But Jones, while an admittedly underwhelming appointment for a club once renowned for their ambition and recruitment, deserves time to put his stamp on a side crying out for direction and investment. Time. Patience. Backing.

Fortunately, the Southampton bosses seem willing to offer just that; The Athletic reporting that reinforcements are being targeted in defence, midfield and attack during the January transfer window. 

Southampton, Aston Villa and Everton are chasing Villarreal’s Nicolas Jackson

Talks are underway regarding deals for Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Carlos Alcarez (Racing Club) and Terem Moffi (FC Lorient). Three exciting attackers with an eye for goal.

Jackson, while hardly prolific, is another candidate to add some thrust and threat to a side who have scored just 15 times in 18 games this season. 

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Southampton have lodged a bid to sign Jackson on loan. A deal that could become permanent should he impress at St Mary’s. Jackson, a speedy, 21-year-old Senegal international, is a centre-forward by trade but can also play out wide.

Jackson has a £27 million release clause in his Villarreal contract. Southampton have shown a willingness to break their transfer record in recent times, however, coming close to signing Goncalo Ramos and now-Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo in big money deals over the summer.

Jackson is a player in a similar mould; technically capable, brimming with potential and capable of playing in a range of attacking positions. 

The Gambia-born forward has also been linked with Aston Villa, now under the stewardship of his former Villarreal coach Unai Emery. TMW believe Everton are another club with Jackson on their radar.