Wright Questions Chelsea Sale

Ian Wright believes Chelsea made a mistake by selling Nicolas Jackson.

The former Arsenal and England striker questioned the club's decision to offload the Senegal international after his strong start to the season with Aston Villa. Jackson has scored seven goals in 11 appearances since joining Villa Park in a £65 million summer transfer. His performance includes a brace in a win over Premier League leaders Manchester City at the weekend.

Chelsea signed Jackson from Villarreal in 2023. He netted 17 goals in all competitions during his first season at Stamford Bridge. However, his contributions declined during the 2024-25 campaign. The club subsequently loaned him to Bayern Munich for £14 million. That deal included an option for a permanent move for an additional £56 million if specific conditions were met. Jackson failed to meet the appearance requirements because he served as a backup to Harry Kane, the new Ballon d'Or winner. He returned to London in the summer.

The arrival of Joao Pedro at Chelsea complicated Jackson's future. The club approved his permanent move to Aston Villa, where he reunited with Unai Emery, his former manager at Villarreal. Gary Neville, a Manchester United legend, discussed the 25-year-old on The Overlap. He asked if Jackson is the most improved player in the Premier League. Neville said he thought Jackson would be a good signing for any team because he is difficult to play against.

Wright expressed delight for Jackson's progress. He noted that while Jackson missed chances at Chelsea, his movement, shoulder play, and touch were strong. Wright argued that the striker needed to start scoring to gain confidence. He said that confidence is now visible in Jackson's play. Wright added that the forward could go on a scoring run at Villa and that his future depends on his own efforts.

Emery praised Jackson after the win over Manchester City. He highlighted the striker's quality, power, and maturity. The manager said Jackson is demanding of himself to improve. He admitted that adapting to the team was difficult at the start of the season, with Jackson often shooting over the crossbar. Emery noted that the striker is now hitting the target better and working well tactically. He said Jackson is good at duels but needs to run more in behind.

Joao Pedro has scored five goals in his first six appearances for Chelsea. The Brazilian is currently injured and missed the club's Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool on Wednesday. He will also be absent for the weekend match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.