Chelsea believe they have a player who is among the top 3 in his position in the Premier League: Reports

Chelsea regard Nicolas Jackson as one of the Premier League's top three center-forwards, according to Simon Johnson of The Athletic. The Senegalese striker has reshaped perceptions about his goal-scoring ability this season, endearing himself to the Chelsea faithful.

Nicolas Jackson moved to Stamford Bridge from Spanish side Villarreal in the summer of 2023. The Senegal international was Chelsea’s main man upfront in the 2023-24 campaign under Mauricio Pochettino. However, he developed a reputation for fluffing his lines in front of goal and was consequently criticized for it by the Blues faithful.

Jackson scored 17 goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances for the Blues last season. However, the former Villarreal man has raised the bar this season under Enzo Maresca, having scored six goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances across competitions. The 22-year-old sits joint seventh in the Premier League scoring charts this term, level with Liam Delap and Danny Welbeck.

Following his bright start to the 2024-25 campaign, the West London club now see Jackson as one of the top-three strikers in the Premier League.

Darren Bent says Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson is not one of the top three in the Premier League

While Chelsea reportedly believe that their frontman Jackson is currently among the top-three strikers in the Premier League, former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent disagrees. The talkSPORT pundit believes the Senegal man isn’t in the conversation of the best players in the league.

Previously, Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly had stated that Nicolas Jackson has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or in the future.

In a discussion on talkSPORT, pundits Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent deliberated on the possibility of Jackson winning the Ballon d’Or. Goldstein read Koulibaly’s quote to Bent and asked the former Tottenham Hotspur man for his take on whether Jackson is a potential Ballon d’Or winner. Bent responded:

''I don’t think so. I think there’s too much quality in the world for it. This is good, but you won’t even put him in the top three for four in the Premier League, let alone Ballon d’Or.''

Watch here (4:18)