Liverpool chief agreed transfer for Chelsea forward with private jet booked

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes came agonisingly close to signing Nicolas Jackson, only for the transfer to fall through at the last minute. The Premier League champions are on the hunt for a new striker this summer, with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike near the top of their wish list.

After already splashing out over £200million in the transfer window so far, the Reds are now ramping up their efforts to strengthen their forward line. Liverpool have yet to officially bid for Isak or approach Newcastle United, but there's a growing sense that he might be enticed by a fresh challenge at Anfield, reports the Liverpool Echo.

If Liverpool fail to lure Isak from St. James' Park, they may consider making a move for Ekitike, with Newcastle already in discussions with Eintracht Frankfurt about the Frenchman. However, Isak and Ekitike aren't the only strikers linked with Liverpool. The Athletic reported this week that Viktor Gyokeres, who is close to joining Arsenal, and Victor Osimhen have also caught the club's eye.

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Current Chelsea striker Jackson has also been highlighted, a player admired by Reds sporting director Hughes from his time at Bournemouth. That doesn't necessarily mean Liverpool will pursue the Senegal international.

However, with Chelsea having already signed João Pedro and Liam Delap this summer, Jackson's future at Stamford Bridge is far from certain, although the Blues have reportedly slapped a £100m price tag on him.

Hughes' previous interest in Jackson was strong, so much so that he was on the verge of signing him for Bournemouth. Jackson was playing for Villarreal when the Cherries agreed a transfer fee of £20.3million in January 2023.

The promising striker had appeared set to sign for Southampton, only for Hughes to intervene. The deal seemed all but done, with footage emerging of Jackson boarding a private jet to the UK to conclude discussions.

However, a hamstring injury uncovered during his medical saw Bournemouth abort the transaction as they chose not to risk waiting for his return to full fitness amid their relegation battle.

Once back on the pitch in March, Jackson didn't miss a beat, netting 10 goals in his final 11 matches of the term for Villarreal, a streak that caught Chelsea's eye, culminating in his £32million switch to the Blues in June 2023.

Cherries owner Bill Foley has since conceded that not going through with the Jackson deal was a mistake. He said: "We tried to get him back this year, we had him last year and I believe we made a mistake. He didn't pass his medical but actually he played much sooner than we thought he would."

Jackson has netted 30 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea, contributing to their triumphs in the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League. However, following the arrivals of Pedro and Delap, his position at Chelsea looks precarious, potentially paving the way for a move.

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