Senegal international Nicolas Jackson has emerged as a potential transfer target for Aston Villa, according to former Villa scout Mick Brown.

Jackson, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Spanish side Villarreal for a fee of £32 million, had an impressive debut season in the Premier League, scoring 14 league goals. The 23-year-old forward adapted well to English football and made a strong start under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Speaking about Villa’s possible transfer plans, Brown highlighted the club’s need for attacking reinforcements due to uncertainties surrounding their current forward options.

“Come the end of the season, let’s say they lose Rashford, then they’ve just lost Jhon Duran to Saudi Arabia, so that’s another option gone. Ollie Watkins is attracting interest from Arsenal as well,” Brown said.

“So if they’re left with limited options up front, they’re going to have to go into the market to find a new striker who can play regular games for them. If Jackson is available, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them make a move for him.”

He added, “There are a lot of moving pieces, but it’s very possible Villa are going to be looking for a new striker, and Jackson is one of the names on their list.”

With Villa aiming to strengthen their squad ahead of another competitive season, Jackson could be a viable option to bolster their attacking department. However, Chelsea’s stance on the forward’s availability remains unclear.