Latest: Chelsea open to selling player valued at £50m earlier this summer | OneFootball

The talk about Nicolas Jackson potentially leaving Chelsea began long ago – but it’s all doubled in intensity thanks to events at the Club World Cup.

Liam Delap was signed just before the tournament started, and took Jackson’s place once the Senegal star had got his latest silly red card. Things got even worse for the banned Jackson as he watched Joao Pedro join too, the Brazilian then muscling his way to the top of the pecking order.

Chelsea more likely to cash in on Jackson after JP success

Nicolas Jackson in action against Fluminense. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Now the reports about Jackson potentially leaving make much more sense. While he’s a handy player and one most fans would like to keep, if he’s going to play far less than he has been doing his value is going to tumble, and our sporting directors would rather cash in while he has value.

There was talk about Man U being interested from the Times earlier this morning, and that chatter has now been backed up by a report from TeamTalk this afternoon.

United are struggling to get a deal done with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo, and it seems Jackson could be an option whether or not that move happens. They need reinforcements soon, especially in forward areas.

£50m price tag for Jackson feels agreeable to both sides

Fabrizio Romano claimed back in June that Chelsea valued Jackson at £50m, which seems a little cheap in some ways, but could end up looking like a good price if he sits on the bench for most of this season.

We expect the next step is to sound out United and their appetite to pay that much for the striker.

If they continue to have difficulties with Mbeumo, things could work out nicely for Chelsea here.