I'm sorry Nic Jackson, you're not a nine (yet)
Stephen Ganavas assesses whether Chelsea's Senegalese striker is ready to be a top-six centre-forward.
In the few short weeks of pre-season, the popular perception of Nicolas Jackson has transformed from an under-the-radar La Liga prospect into the great attacking hope of a billion-dollar supersquad.
Few players undergo such a change of reputation before a ball has been kicked in anger. Now that it has, Stephen Ganavas writes, such hopes might be misplaced — or at least, the player is.
Chelsea are learning that scoring Premier League goals isn’t easy. The Blues have scored just 40 in the 40 games since they embarked on their rebuild at the start of last season.
With Christopher Nkunku sidelined by a meniscus injury, their early season goal-scoring hopes have been pinned on Nicolas Jackson, one of countless new signings. He arrived from Villarreal this summer in a deal worth in the vicinity of €35 million.
I have concerns.
