Tottenham Target Chelsea Striker Nicolas Jackson as Window Closes
Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their late-window contingency planning, with French journalist Fabrice Hawkins reporting that the club are monitoring Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson as a possible attacking addition before the deadline.
Spurs are not alone. Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are also tracking the Senegal international, with Chelsea understood to want around £60m for the 23-year-old. That figure is hefty, but it undercuts the £70m Liverpool are reportedly seeking for Cody Gakpo, and Jackson offers something clubs always pay a premium for: he is a natural centre-forward, and three years younger than the Dutchman.
A familiar name, a different tone
Talk of Jackson to Tottenham is not entirely new. The Mail floated Spurs’ interest a couple of weeks ago, only for that story to be quickly dismissed by several well-connected English reporters, including Alasdair Gold. This latest line feels more substantial. Hawkins has a strong track record, particularly when it comes to French and Francophone players, and his report has given the Jackson angle fresh life.
Even so, this does not look like Tottenham’s headline act. It looks like insurance.
Plan B territory
Spurs’ main attacking focus remains elsewhere. Savinho and Gakpo are still understood to be the priority targets for this window, but the dominoes around them are awkwardly stacked.
PSG are said to be demanding a huge fee from Liverpool for Bradley Barcola. If Liverpool cannot land Barcola, the logic is simple: they are far less likely to sanction Gakpo’s exit. That scenario would leave Tottenham needing to pivot quickly, and Jackson is one of the names already positioned on that shortlist.
The numbers reflect that evolving market. Hawkins’ £60m figure is actually slightly lower than the £65m fee mentioned in the Mail’s earlier reporting, suggesting Chelsea’s stance may be softening as the window ticks down.
An underrated option?
Jackson comes with baggage for Spurs supporters. He plays for Chelsea. He has scored against Tottenham. That alone will turn some stomachs.
Strip out the emotion, though, and the profile is intriguing. Jackson underperforms his xG, which will worry some recruitment departments, but the flip side is significant: he consistently gets shots away in the box. For a system that thrives on volume and centrality of chances, that matters more than the raw finishing streak of one season.
In the right setup, particularly one as structured and attacking as Roberto De Zerbi’s, Jackson looks far more like an asset than a risk. Give him service, give him repetition, and the numbers suggest the goals should follow. And history shows that the first time a former rival hits the net in your colours, the noise in the stands changes very quickly.
For now, Spurs are keeping this one holstered. Jackson is a backup plan, not the main play. But with the market tightening and the Gakpo chain reaction still unresolved, that backup might yet be called into action before the window slams shut.
