Gary Neville believes Nicolas Jackson has changed Chelsea’s transfer plans following his impressive run of form.
Jackson was heavily scrutinised during his first season at Stamford Bridge despite contributing 17 goals in all competitions.
A number of pundits criticised Jackson’s somewhat erratic finishing and suggested Chelsea needed to sign a new striker to replace the Senegal striker.
Neville was among those to urge Chelsea to dip into the market and use Jackson as a back-up striker, but says the 23-year-old’s form this season has changed his mind.
Jackson scored his eighth Premier League goal of the season on Sunday to help Enzo Maresca’s side beat Aston Villa 3-0 and consolidate their position in the top-four.
Chelsea’s surprising form – they were widely tipped to struggle before the season began – has even raised hope of a shock title challenge but Neville believes that is beyond the Blues, who are level on points with Arsenal and nine behind runaway leaders Liverpool.
‘It feels too early for Chelsea, that’s why I don’t put them level with Arsenal even though they’re on the same number of points,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.
‘It doesn’t feel like Chelsea will go on and win it. I still think it’s going to be Arsenal if anyone does catch Liverpool.
‘But Chelsea are having a fantastic season. Maresca has got a stability there which has been hard to find recently.
‘So well done to them today, I watched bits of them today. The Cole Palmer goal was absolutely brilliant, absolutely wonderful.
‘Nicolas Jackson, I’m happy for him. I never thought he was the problem. I thought they might need to sign another forward but I thought he would be a really good second striker.
‘If you had a number nine like Diego Costa and Jackson was your man to come on, you’d think what a good striker he is to come on.
‘He’s now pushing to the point where you think, “do we actually need that first striker? Could he be that first striker?”
‘I had a lot of love for him last year even though he was erratic and made mistakes. We’re now seeing a real handful up there and someone you wouldn’t want to play against as a centre half.
‘Chelsea are doing really well so well done to the manger for bringing that levels of calmness to the club because it’s been mad and chaotic over the last few seasons.
‘For the first time in a while it feels like it’s settled down so well done to Maresca and well done to the players. The owners will feel a little bit more calm at this moment in time.
‘But I don’t feel that they’re in the title race, I don’t sense that really.’