Sport
Jackson and Hojlund still have the talent to succeed
Chelsea have once again spent vast amounts of money under Todd Boehly and Clearlake this summer. In particular, the signings of both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have given an insight into Enzo Maresca’s plan to build on the Blues’ Europa Conference League and Club World Cup victories and challenge for the Premier League title. Nicolas Jackson, a previous striker project, has been left out in the cold.
Like with Manchester United and Rasmus Hojlund, the race is on to find Jackson a new club before the transfer window shuts. Given how this has become the summer of strikers, it shouldn’t prove difficult. Villa and Newcastle are two Premier League teams in need of firepower, albeit likely in the form of competition for Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak. Isak has been the most wanted striker in the market, locked in a civil war with the Magpies as he looks to force a move to Liverpool. But after releasing a statement accusing the club of broken promises, Newcastle countered and it looks right now as though he’ll be staying at St James’ Park.
Conditions on allowing Isak to leave are two-fold: Liverpool match their £150m valuation and a replacement is sought, on top of the need to backfill Callum Wilson after his departure. Jackson has been floated as a potential option, but Newcastle have seen two bids for Brentford’s striker Yoane Wissa turned down, unless they walk away, Jackson isn’t a viable option. Were both to arrive and
Isak to depart, Newcastle would be left strikerless during January when they go to the African Cup of Nations.
Isak has dominated the discourse this summer, but the plights of Jackson and Hojlund should serve as a warning to other big name movers, not just Joao Pedro and Delap, but Benjamin Sesko who has signed for Manchester United, Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike. Many of them have been bought because of their potential, and there is expectation that they will step up to a new level. But that was the case for both Jackson and Hojlund; their difficulties over the last couple of seasons are a reflection of intense pressure and diminishing support.
Of course, they had to perform, and perhaps both are in need of moves to less expectant environments. But the way Isak and Wissa have gone about trying to force moves away from their clubs has shone a spotlight on a lack of loyalty from players; Jackson and Hojlund are perhaps examples of the opposite. They arrived full of hope and big reputations and now find themselves on the scrapheap having to rebuild; Jackson has scored double figures for Premier League goals in both seasons, while Hojlund moved to Old Trafford for more than £70m off the back of one season at Atalanta. Although he impressed and his potential was obvious, he only scored nine goals, hardly conducive to thriving with the demands of hitting the ground running at one of England’s biggest clubs.
It isn’t about arguing that either Jackson or Hojlund deserved more chances at their current clubs, but exploring the nuance that they shouldn’t be written off and could thrive at other big clubs. Sesko, Joao Pedro or even Ekitike could find themselves in a similar position in a couple of years if they don’t thrive immediately.
Hojlund has been linked with a return to Italy, while Jackson has strong interest too. Manchester United want around £40m for their man, while Chelsea may need to reduce their demands. But the longer they remain available and the deadline edges nearer, the more attainable they are.
The narrative around both has been harsh. Talent is there, but needs to be given a chance to thrive; whoever offers that platform could be handsomely rewarded.
