Manchester United have finally learned the truth about Nicolas Jackson’s price-tag as they consider signing the Chelsea star.
Manchester United are looking to overhaul their attacking options this summer following a dismal 2024/25 season that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League, largely due to a lack of goals.
Bruno Fernandes ended the campaign as the club’s top scorer with 19 goals, while only three other players managed to reach double figures across all competitions.
To tackle their goalscoring woes, United have spent £127.5 million on wingers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who notched a combined 35 Premier League goals last season. They’ve also added 18-year-old Diego Leon as backup at left wing-back.
With those attacking additions secured, Ruben Amorim’s attention now turns to signing a central striker to spearhead the frontline.
Jackson price-tag finally revealed as United learn truth
Among those being linked with the club is Nicolas Jackson and those links have heated up in recent days, with a deal seeming like a realistic possibility.
One of the potential sticking points involving a deal to sign Jackson was the rumoured price-tag Chelsea were requesting for him.
It wasn’t so long ago that The Blues wanted £100 million for him, and even since he has been out of favour, most rumours have suggested the price would still be upwards of £60 million.
However, the latest reports from ESPN’s Julien Laurens have explained that Jackson would only actually cost around £40 million – potentially slightly more – this summer.
He added that United view the Chelsea striker as a potential interesting signing and that Jackson is ‘better suited’ to Amorim’s system at Old Trafford.
Zirkzee still has chance to shine
At the beginning of the summer window, United seemed destined to sign a centre-forward who would blow their existing options out of the water.
But now, with Jackson and the other options being considered, it seems like Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee in particular will have their chance to prove themselves as the favoured option.
Someone like Viktor Gyokeres or Victor Osimhen would be near-impossible to push out of the starting team but Jackson is not on that level.
As mentioned, Zirkzee probably has the best chance out of the existing options to show that he can start on a weekly basis, especially as he would be able to link up with Mbeumo and Cunha well.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.