FC Barcelona has made an important decision in the transfer market. According to CaughtOffside, the club has ruled out continuing to wait for Julián Álvarez. The complicated financial situation and Manchester City's refusal to negotiate have made the culés look elsewhere. The new target has a first and last name: Nicolas Jackson.
The Chelsea striker, who previously played for Villarreal, is now the new favorite in Barça's sporting management. Hansi Flick has approved his signing. He is a profile that already knows LaLiga, with physical strength, speed, and a goal-scoring instinct. In addition, his price would be much more affordable than that of the Argentine forward.
Barça believes that Jackson meets the three key requirements: he is good, he is attractive, and he is cheaper. Chelsea doesn't consider him untransferable, and his market value is around €35-40 million. This is a manageable figure (€35-40 million) if some levers are activated or if an important sale takes place in the coming weeks.
Looking for a striker
Julián Álvarez was the big dream for the attack, but Atlético doesn't want to part with a key footballer in Simeone's system. Not even a loan seemed possible. This has forced Barça to change its plans and prioritize realistic targets. Nico Jackson, due to his age, performance, and potential, fits perfectly into the new scenario.
The former Villarreal player was already on the culé agenda before signing for Chelsea. Deco knows his profile well and believes he can develop even further at Barça. With Hans Dieter Flick on the bench, FC Barcelona is looking for verticality, pace, and high pressing. Nico Jackson could offer those qualities from day one.
A replacement for Lewandowski
In addition, previous experience in Spain works in his favor. At Villarreal, he showed character, goal-scoring ability, and the capacity to break through defenses. At Chelsea, he has had ups and downs, but he has also shown flashes of a great striker. In Barcelona, they believe that, with confidence and continuity, he can be a game-changing piece.
The priority remains to strengthen the attack with a reliable number 9. Lewandowski isn't part of the future plans, and Pau Victor is going to play for Sporting de Braga. That's why Nico Jackson appears as an immediate and future solution. He has room for improvement and hasn't reached his ceiling yet, but Barça also has Rashford.
Barça doesn't want to repeat past mistakes. Betting on a striker who has already proven himself in LaLiga may be the smartest decision. Chelsea, meanwhile, would be willing to negotiate if the player agrees to leave. Jackson himself is open to the option of returning to Spain. A definitive goodbye to Julián Álvarez.