In a recent interview with Give Me Sport, transfer insider Dean Jones mentioned that Aston Villa have the edge in the race for Villarreal winger Nicolas Jackson. Jones said,
“I’m not convinced that this is one that Newcastle are actively pursuing right now.
“In that sense, you’d probably edge that if he was to go anywhere, it would be Villa and Emery.”
Jackson’s Good Run Of Form In Spanish Football
Jackson is having a decent campaign with the Yellow Submarine after putting in some promising performances for them in the opposition half. The Senegalese sensation has found the back of the net three times and earned a couple of assists in 21 matches for Villarreal this season in multiple competitions.
The Banjul-born wing wizard has caught the eye at times by averaging 1.2 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. However, he has to figure out a way to improve his link-up play on the attacking end of the field, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 72.7% in the Spanish first division (stats via whoscored).
What Will Jackson Bring To Aston Villa?
Jackson is proficient at finding space for himself to get a few shots in on-target and has added some goals and assists to his game this season. He has also got the eye to set up a clear-cut chance for his teammate when given time and space deep inside the opponent’s half.
The Senegalese talent can even make some driving runs with the ball out on the flanks. He usually plays as a right-winger but can also operate as a left-sided wide player or as a centre-forward if required.
At 21, Jackson has got the potential to become a future star in European football. Hence, Aston Villa will do well to secure the services of the Senegalese wide player next year.
We can expect Jackson to bring more firepower to Unai Emery‘s attacking department at Villa Park. Plus, he could help the West Midlands club challenge for a European place in the Premier League over the next decade as long as the player can make a smooth transition to life in England.
Still, there are some concerns over whether the talented youngster can cope with the physical demands and high intensity of Premier League football. Even then, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting Jackson, so Emery should think about getting a deal done for him soon.
