First it was a £50 million bid for Anthony. Now it is Brighton being told they need to sign striker Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea. Summer transfer window silly season is here and 2025 is certainly not disappointing.
The bold claim that the Albion should target a player whom Chelsea have slapped an £80 million price tag on came from Jermaine Pennant.
Speaking to Adventure Gamers, the former Real Zaragoza and Pune City winger started off by saying he does not believe Jackson good enough for any of the big clubs in the Premier League. But that Jackson would be a great signing for a #TeamLikeBrighton.
“I’m not sure if Nicolas Jackson is the man for a top team as we’ve seen during his time at Chelsea,” said Pennant. “It’s an interesting one to see where he goes if he leaves the club.”
“He is in the Darwin Nunez bracket for me. He gets loads of chances, but he isn’t prolific.”
“If I were him, I’d look a little below that level. Someone like Brighton. I think that could work because he would do well there. Brighton should be looking at him.”
“Manchester United are linked but I’m not too sure that’s the right move for the club. It could be another Rasmus Hojlund situation.”
“Jackson obviously believes in himself and thinks he should be at a top team. But I can’t see him being the number one for a top six side.”
United are in the market for a new striker this summer. They had been heavily linked with ex-Albion forward Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish international though now seems likely to join Arsenal from Sporting in a deal worth £63.7 million.
Jackson being linked with United therefore came somewhat out of the blue. Chelsea have apparently said they will sell if a bid of £80 million is forthcoming.
Such a valuation instantly rules Brighton out of the running, no matter what Pennant may think. The Seagulls are not going to obliterate their transfer record by paying double the £40 million forked out for Georginio Rutter to 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners The Leeds United 12 months ago.
Not to mention that a combined £51 million has already been spent by Brighton on forward reinforcements this summer – Greek duo Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas.
In fact, the idea of Brighton signing Nicolas Jackson is arguably even more wild than launching a £50 million bid for Antony.
Multiple outlets reported last week the Albion were leading the chase alongside Newcastle United for the Brazilian winger.
What all those outlets seemed to forget is that Brighton already have 127 wide players in their first team squad.
And whilst Antony did well on loan at Real Betis in the second half of last season, his record at Old Trafford was grim for a player costing £86 million.
12 goals and five assists in 96 appearances for United suggests he simply was not suited to Premier League football.
Begging the question why Brighton would go and potentially break their transfer record by paying £50 million to sign him.
Oh yeah, and remember that time Antony squared up to Lewis Dunk at the Amex? Standing half the height of Dunk and looking like an angered, petulant child?
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