Delap heads to Forest for £50m as Chelsea open talks to sell Jackson to Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal worth £50m to sign Liam Delap from Chelsea.

Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal worth £50m to sign Liam Delap from Chelsea, who have also opened talks over selling Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa.

Xabi Alonso has made João Pedro and Danny Welbeck his main strikers this season, leaving his other frontmen to seek opportunities elsewhere. 

Forest were one of several clubs interested in Delap, who has struggled since joining Chelsea from Ipswich for £30m last summer, and will pay a club record of £45m plus £5m in add-ons for the 23-year-old.

Delap managed only one league goal last season and was hindered by injuries after leaving Ipswich. But the former Manchester City striker was a key target for Forest’s manager, Oliver Glasner, and has a chance to revive his career at the City Ground.

Chelsea are focused on outgoings before the transfer window shuts next Tuesday and are also hoping to sell Jackson, who was on loan at Bayern Munich last season. The Senegal international is valued at £65m and has been earmarked by Villa as a potential replacement for Ollie Watkins, who is expected to join the Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Chelsea are not willing to agree to another loan for Jackson and want his valuation met but Villa are likely to press for a favourable payment schedule to ensure they can afford a permanent deal. Atlético Madrid are also interested in the 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Villarreal in 2023. Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, worked with Jackson at Villarreal.

West Ham’s clearout after relegation from the Premier League is expected to continue with El Hadji Malick Diouf joining Brentford for about £35m. The clubs are in discussions over a deal for the left-back and an agreement is likely soon.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are edging closer to a deal for Paris St Germain forward Bradley Barcola, according to reports.

The 23-year-old remains a priority for new Reds boss Andoni Iraola before the transfer window shuts, despite the Ligue 1 giants initially valuing him at £145million.

PSG are now said to have shown willing to reduce that figure, amid increasing confidence that Liverpool will come back with an acceptable offer.

Barcola was an unused substitute for his side’s Super Cup victory over Aston Villa, and also sat out the French Super Cup loss to Lens and Sunday’s Ligue 1 opener at Rennes.

After the draw with Rennes, PSG sporting director Luis Campos signalled his side’s willingness to remain active until the end of the transfer window.

“The transfer window isn’t over, it’s important to defend PSG and the institution,” Campos told Ligue 1 TV. “You mentioned (Bradley) Barcola and (Ibrahim) Mbaye – we’ll see what happens.” 

Liverpool had initially shown interest in signing both Barcola and Mbaye as a single package, but the French club rejected the proposal and Mbaye is now being linked elsewhere.