Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson will not be involved in Friday’s Premier League fixture against West Ham United, head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed, despite the player being fully fit and available for selection. The 24-year-old Senegal international is reportedly on the verge of a move to Aston Villa, where he could reunite with Unai Emery, his former manager at Villarreal.
“He is available, but he’s not going to be part of the squad,” Maresca told reporters on Thursday. “We have two strikers, we have two players in that position and also we know that something can happen before the transfer window closes.”
The Premier League transfer window shuts on September 1, and while no agreement has been announced, Jackson’s omission signals that a move may be imminent. Jackson joined Chelsea just last season but has found himself on the periphery following the summer arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
France international Christopher Nkunku is also in a similar position, with Maresca stating that he, too, will not feature against West Ham. Media speculation continues to link the 27-year-old with a move back to the Bundesliga, with both Bayern Munich and his former club RB Leipzig reportedly interested.
Further adding to Chelsea’s unsettled situation, Maresca revealed that senior players Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are currently training separately from the main squad. “They are training apart, waiting for some solution,” he said, suggesting potential exits or ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s injury concerns continue with young defender Levi Colwill expected to be sidelined for a significant portion of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The club is reportedly searching for an internal replacement to fill the void in central defence.
Addressing speculation around centre back Wesley Fofana, Maresca sought to clarify the player’s status at the club. “I speak with Wes every day. He’s very, very happy, first of all because he’s back from injury,” the manager said. “He’s joining all the sessions… From tomorrow, he is with us and can also get some minutes. We are happy and he is happy.”
Chelsea, the reigning Club World Cup champions, began their league campaign with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Their opponents West Ham will be looking to bounce back after a heavy 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland in their opening match.
