Manchester United discover Nicolas Jackson asking price 'as three-man striker shortlist is revealed'

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Evening Standard

·21 July 2025

Manchester United discover Nicolas Jackson asking price 'as three-man striker shortlist is revealed'

Chelsea striker is a reported target amid apparent interest in Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins

Manchester United are now expected to shift focus on signing a centre-forward with Nicolas Jackson reportedly on a three-man shortlist.

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The Red Devils have already signed four players in the summer transfer window thus far, although only Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are likely to make an instant impact on the first-team next season.

That said, help for Cunha has arrived as Man United confirmed a £71million deal to sign Mbeumo from Brentford after their third bid was finally accepted last week.

Man Utd have also been tipped to sign a striker this summer as Ruben Amorim is keen to upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund who has struggled for goals since arriving from Atalanta two summers ago.

As a result, Benjamin Sesko - previously linked with Arsenal - Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Jackson of Chelsea appear to be the three strikers most in United’s thinking as it stands.

Transfer target: Nicolas Jackson

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However, a potential deal for the latter will not be cheap. According to Sky Sports, the Blues have set an asking price for Jackson at between £80m and £100m.

The reason for such a high valuation is two-fold. One being Chelsea are under no pressure to cash in on the Senegal international who still has eight years left to run on his contract. In addition, the £79m fee Liverpool are paying for Hugo Ekitike is being used as a benchmark for any potential deal.

Jackson’s future in west London has been called into question following the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this summer and he watched on from the bench as the latter scored in the Club World Cup final win over Paris Saint-Germain.