Chelsea have set an astonishing asking price for Nicolas Jackson who has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United.
The Blues spent £32million on the Senegal international who joined the west London club from Villarreal two years ago.
Jackson has shown flashes of potential during two turbulent years at Stamford Bridge but has been let down by inconsistent finishing and a suspect temperament.
Sent off in a potentially decisive defeat against Newcastle at the end of last season, Jackson was again in hot water when he was dismissed in Chelsea Club World Cup defeat against Flamengo.
Jackson was used sparing thereafter and made only one subsequent appearance as a second half substitute against Fluminense.
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With Joao Pedro having made a sensational start to his Chelsea career and fellow summer recruit Liam Delap also an option, Jackson looks likely to fall down the pecking order should he stay and fight for his place.
With United’s increasingly desperate search for a new centre forward intensifying, however, Chelsea have upped their valuation of a player who also has admirers at Liverpool.
According to Sky Sports, Chelsea will demand between £80m and £100m having taken note of the fee Liverpool are willing to pay for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
The Red Devils, meanwhile, begun their pre-season campaign against Leeds United on Saturday having made just two significant additions to their squad.
Matheus Cunha’s move from Wolves was wrapped up early in the window with the minimum of fuss, while it remains to be seen how prominently teenager Diego Leon will feature following his move from Cerro Porteno.
Ruben Amorim had hoped that Bryan Mbeumo’s transfer would have been resolved by now, but Brentford’s refusal to be railroaded into a sale has seen that saga drag on.
United are confident that a third bid, closer to the Bees valuation, will see the Cameroon forward join imminently, but United are still desperately short of attacking options.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have both been linked with returns to Serie A having failed to convince they are worthy of being regarded as United’s main source of goals.
United had shown interest in Amorim’s former Sporting Lisbon charge, Viktor Gyokeres, but the Sweden international has been steadfast in his determination to join the Gunners.
Amorim’s club still maintain an interest in Benjamin Sesko but are unlikely to be able to match RB Leipzig’s demands.
