Premier League rivals 'eye' Chelsea forward as free agent monitored

This is set to be a pivotal week for Chelsea, both on and off the pitch, as they look to wrap up key transfer business while aiming to progress to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.

Enzo Maresca ’s side have been competing in the FIFA tournament over in the United States and booked their place in the last eight with a win over Benfica at the weekend. Now, they’re preparing for a tricky test against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, with their sights firmly set on reaching the latter stages of the competition.

Off the field, the Blues will be hoping to finalise deals for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens and Brighton’s Joao Pedro. Fees were agreed for both players towards the end of last week, but the transfers are yet to be completed. Pedro, in particular, faces a race against time to be registered in time for the latter rounds of the Club World Cup.

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Here, football.london rounds up the latest transfer news and rumours surrounding Chelsea...

Rivals 'interested' in Jackson

One player who continues to be linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge is forward Nicolas Jackson. The 24-year-old has been at the club since 2023 but has yet to firmly establish himself among Europe’s elite strikers, and he now faces increased competition for places due to Chelsea’s recent transfer activity, which includes the signing of Liam Delap.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa have joined the race to sign the Senegal international and are weighing up a potential move. With Ollie Watkins’ future uncertain, Villa boss Unai Emery could soon be in need of attacking reinforcements, and the report claims he is a big admirer of Jackson.

football.london says: It’s no surprise to see Premier League rivals linked with Jackson, particularly with so many clubs in search of a striker during what’s proving to be a fairly underwhelming market. Whether Chelsea are open to parting ways with Jackson remains unclear, although Maresca has publicly stated the player is not for sale - which might provide a clue as to the club’s stance.

Free agent 'monitored'

Chelsea are reportedly among several clubs monitoring the situation of versatile defender Kyle Walker-Peters, who became a free agent this week following the expiry of his contract with relegated Southampton.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are keeping tabs on the 28-year-old former Tottenham academy product, while Turkish side Besiktas are also believed to have held talks. A number of other Premier League clubs are said to be in the mix, including West Ham, Fulham, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace.

football.london says: Walker-Peters presents an intriguing free-agent option this summer as he brings Premier League experience and would contribute to a club's homegrown quota. That said, Chelsea aren’t currently in urgent need of a right-back, with Reece James already at the club and Malo Gusto also providing strong cover. While additional depth is always welcome, Walker-Peters himself may have concerns over his expected playing time at Stamford Bridge.