Enzo Maresca has admitted that “anything can happen” as Nicolas Jackson edges closer to a Chelsea departure.
The Senegal international has reportedly been offered to multiple Premier League clubs as Chelsea eye a potential sale this summer, and Maresca has refused to rule out a transfer before the end of the summer window.
“At the moment, the two strikers [Joao Pedro and Liam Delap] have arrived. So we will see.”
Pedro and Delap were both favoured ahead of Jackson during Chelsea’s triumphant Club World Cup campaign, and David Ornstein recently confirmed that he is “increasingly likely” to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of Transfer Deadline Day.
The 24-year-old has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea, but the Blues are open to a sale as they look to raise funds for their pursuits of Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig) and Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United).
The Guardian have revealed that Chelsea may demand €92m (£80m) to sanction Jackson’s departure this summer, with the club using Hugo Ekitike’s €95m move to Liverpool as a reference for their asking price.
Estevao Willian praise
Although Maresca was tight-lipped regarding the future of Jackson, he was eager to heap praise on summer signing Estevao Willian, who was officially unveiled by Chelsea on Wednesday.
“I feel very happy about the new signings because they are the ones we were looking at. For sure, they need time. We will give them time to adapt,” he said.
“For me, the biggest mistake we can do with him [Estevao] is to put him under pressure. He is very young and needs to adapt. He’s a fantastic player, he is very young. He’s a happy boy.
“He can play everywhere. He is so good. He’s like Cole [Palmer] in terms of position. He can play everywhere.
“With him, we need to pay more attention. He’s very, very young. Not under pressure. Give him happiness, give him time. Hopefully we can give him minutes so he is more happy. He’s a talented player.”
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