Nicolas Jackson to Arsenal transfer bombshell emerges as £55m Chelsea striker deal agreed

Arsenal could reportedly make a shock move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson if they are unable to sign Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko, it has been claimed.

The Gunners, who finished second in the Premier League last term, are in the hunt for a forward this summer and have been linked with moves for Gyokeres, Sesko, Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak.

However, The Times' Duncan Castles has now claimed that the North Londoners are keeping tabs on Jackson, who joined Chelsea from Villarreal two years ago.

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Since arriving in West London, the 24-year-old has scored 30 goals in 80 appearances for the Blues. However, that hasn't stopped the Conference League winners from adding a wealth of attackers, most recently Liam Delap, to their ranks.

A £60m move for Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro has now also been agreed, and the Brazilian could be added to his new club's Club World Cup squad as long as he is registered by July 3.

His arrival could ultimately lead to the Blues deciding to offload one of their current crop of forwards, with Jackson's role at Stamford Bridge by no means certain.

Now, Castles has revealed that Jackson could emerge as a possible alternative for the Gunners if they are unable to land one of their first-choice targets.

Assessing Arsenal's pursuit of a striker on The Transfers Podcast, Castles said: "Mikel Arteta last season wanted to work with a tight squad, a small squad, because he thought that would give him the optimum chance of winning, the Premier League, it proved to be wrong, a whole host of injuries and also suspension issues.

"He’s changed his stance and wants a big squad and they’re going about it in all kinds of areas.

"Viktor Gyokeres has basically told Sporting he’s not going to play or train for them again unless they let him go at the price of €60 million plus €10m in bonuses that was agreed at the end of last season’s transfer window, big fight with the president there.

"He is one of four candidates to be the new striker at Arsenal.

"Benjamin Sesko has been a key figure in their list of targets. One of the issues is Sesko has been asking for a release clause to be added to a contract that he would sign with Arsenal, which is something that Arsenal are not keen on for obvious reasons.

"Ollie Watkins… Arsenal explored signing him in January, Aston Villa said, ‘No, you will not be taking our key forward at that point. ’ But Watkins, I’m told, would be open to a move to Arsenal.

"Whether that will emerge, you’d like to play for continue playing for club in the Champions League but play for a club with the possibility of winning the Premier League title, if Arsenal were to offer Aston Villa a sum that would be acceptable to them.

"And then there’s one more name that I’ve become aware of this week, which may come as a surprise, which is Nicholas Jackson, the striker who’s had an interesting time in his two years at Chelsea."

Castles added: "Chelsea have always been looking for either adding somewhere else in that position or replacing him totally.

"Chelsea say they’re not actively looking to sell Jackson in this window but he’s not one of the ‘untouchable’ figures within the squad, so were a big enough offer to come in they would consider selling him."

An Arsenal swoop for Jackson would certainly be surprising given they would need to sign him directly from their London rivals but with moves for Sesko and Gyokeres having failed to move forward in recent days, it could be one to watch.