Manchester United are exploring a move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson as part of a broader attacking refresh ahead of the 2025/26 season. With the club prioritising the recruitment of a starting No. 9, Jackson has moved high on their striker shortlist alongside Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. United believe added firepower is essential as Rasmus Højlund continues his development and Anthony Martial edges toward an exit.
Jackson finished last season with 13 goals and 6 assists in 37 appearances across competitions, numbers that hint at upside given his age and athletic profile. Coaches who have tracked him admire his pace in transition, willingness to press, and capacity to stretch back lines by running channels, qualities that could complement Højlund or allow tactical rotation in a congested calendar.
Despite that promise, Jackson’s role at Chelsea faded late in the campaign. A red card at the Club World Cup prefaced a slide down the order, and the January arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro further squeezed his minutes. He was an unused substitute in the season‑ending final against Paris Saint‑Germain and logged only about 30 minutes across Chelsea’s four knockout fixtures, fuelling questions about his long‑term fit at Stamford Bridge.
From a tactical angle, Jackson’s profile offers flexibility. He has operated across the front line, can run beyond to create depth, and is comfortable linking play on the break or pressing from the front. That adaptability fits United’s busy schedule and could help manage workloads across domestic and European fixtures.
Chelsea are not actively pushing him out, yet their evolving forward plan appears to centre on Delap and Pedro, whose form helped secure Champions League qualification and a Conference League crown. Club figures are said to value Jackson at around £100m; whether that represents a negotiating stance or a hard line remains to be seen.
One wrinkle to watch is Alejandro Garnacho’s situation at Old Trafford. If the winger signals openness to a new challenge, a player‑plus‑cash framework could be tabled, sending Garnacho to Stamford Bridge while Jackson heads north. Talks remain exploratory, but the contours of such a swap have been discussed informally.
For United, the calculus is clear: add an attacker capable of immediate contribution and long‑term growth. Jackson’s blend of speed, versatility, and finishing make him a compelling candidate. Should circumstances align, his move could become one of the summer’s headline transfer stories.
