Sky Sports: Man Utd priced out of deal for ‘unbelievable’ target after £79m Ekitike transfer sets ‘benchmark’

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·21 juillet 2025

Sky Sports: Man Utd priced out of deal for ‘unbelievable’ target after £79m Ekitike transfer sets ‘benchmark’

Manchester United are poised to be priced out of a deal for Nicolas Jackson after learning of Chelsea’s extortionate valuation.

The Red Devils have been linked with Jackson over the last week amid their ongoing search for a proven centre-forward addition, having missed out on both Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres.

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It’s thought the forward’s Stamford Bridge exit could materialise this summer due to him dropping in the pecking order under Enzo Maresca; the arrival of Delap and stellar start from Joao Pedro, who notched three goals in the semi-final and final of the Club World Cup, has thrown Jackson’s role into question.

United mull over swoop for out-of-favour Nicolas Jackson

Jackson signed from Villarreal in 2023 for just over his £31 million release clause. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

As such, United were reportedly willing to offer the Senegal international – hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Joe Cole and Peter Crouch – an escape route to secure increased game time in the Premier League. Rasmus Hojlund’s dismal four-goal league campaign last term means he’s set to play a more rotational role this time around, which would pave the way for the Blue to stake his claim up front.

Whether he’d actually be willing to make the move remains to be seen, given United will navigate 2025/2026 with no form of European football to account for.

INEOS chiefs have, according to speculation, reached out to Jackson’s representative to gauge the feasibility of a switch to Old Trafford – but today’s developments have provided an unwanted obstacle in United’s pursuit.

Why United could be priced out of Jackson transfer

Sky Sports have revealed that Chelsea will demand a fee in the region of £80-100 million to sanction their frontman’s sale, with Hugo Ekitike’s imminent £79m move to Liverpool posing as their ‘benchmark’ for a like-for-like player.

Jackson has scored 30 goals and recorded 12 assists in 81 appearances for the London outfit, which includes 24 goals and 10 assists in 65 top-flight appearances.