Everton have potentially been dealt a setback to their hopes of securing a move for Villarreal winger Nicolas Jackson.
According to a recent report from Football Insider, fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have joined the race to sign the attacker and hope to beat the Toffees to his signature.
Everton’s interest in Jackson
The Merseyside club were initially linked with a move for the 21-year-old, who reportedly has a release clause of £29m, in August but were unable to strike a deal for him before the summer transfer window closed.
In 46 appearances for Villarreal across their senior and youth teams, the winger has scored eight goals and delivered 10 assists.
After only making eight substitute appearances in La Liga last season, the Senegal international has started five of Villarreal’s six league matches in the current campaign, showing that he is now an important first-team figure for the club.
Across his six league appearances, Jackson has made the joint-second highest number of carries into the 18-yard box (five) at his club and posted the fourth-highest average for shots per game (1.5), which showcases his attacking prowess.
Lampard needs to make it happen
Described as an “imposing” figure on the pitch by journalist David Timon, it’s easy to see why the winger has caught the attention of the Toffees and now Newcastle as well.
Bearing in mind how current Everton winger Andros Townsend sees his Goodison Park contract expire at the end of the season and has been out of action since March with a cruciate ligament injury, perhaps securing a deal for Jackson is something that Lampard needs to pull off as a long-term investment.
Even though Newcastle have been flaunting the wealth they now boast under their mega-rich owners, Everton should do all that they can to bring the Villarreal star to Merseyside either in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer.
