Chelsea vice-captain Ben Chilwell has drawn a comparison between their new summer recruit Nicolas Jackson and Premier League icon Jamie Vardy.
Chilwell has likened the two players, suggesting similarities between their playing styles and attributes.
Due to Christopher Nkunku’s extended absence due to injury, Jackson is expected to shoulder increased responsibility and lead Mauricio Pochettino’s revamped attacking lineup in the initial stages of the upcoming season.
The 22-year-old concluded his tenure at Villarreal on a high note, displaying impressive form, and showcasing his potential during Chelsea’s pre-season tour in the United States. During this tour, he notched two goals and contributed three assists.
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Despite being less spotlighted among Chelsea’s summer signings, Chilwell believes Jackson is poised to challenge Premier League defenders with his relentless running, drawing a parallel to his former Leicester teammate Vardy.
As quoted by talkSport, he said:
“Personally, it’s a very different kind of centre-forward to a lot of centre-forwards you see nowadays, in a positive way. It’s a nice surprise in a way to see a no.9 that loves running in behind, it kind of takes me back to when I was at Leicester with Vards [Vardy].”
“It’s definitely a strong attribute to have when you can do that and do that in a very threatening way. So, hopefully, we can all give him the service that he needs and the service that I’m sure he will get when he’s got pace like that and wants to get in behind defences.”
Despite significant investments in several new additions, Chelsea are persistently striving to secure further signings before the closure of the transfer window.
However, their chances of signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton are diminishing rapidly due to Liverpool’s recent agreement on a British transfer fee record with the Seagulls.
As an alternative, Chelsea are redirecting their focus towards pursuing Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
Simultaneously, they maintain their interest in Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, despite Pochettino’s doubts about the former Fiorentina star.
