Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa: Why the Premier League's Most Misunderstood Striker Could Thrive Under Emery

Nicolas Jackson may be the Premier League's most misunderstood striker as the £65m Aston Villa signing reunites with Unai Emery, with analysis of his Chelsea numbers, chances created and why he could deliver goals and assists in a high-powered Villa attack Signed by Aston Villa for £65m, Nicholas Jackson returns to work under Unai Emery, one of the most accomplished managers in the Premier League. (Photo courtesy: Aston Villa/X) Nicolas Jackson may be the most misunderstood striker in the Premier League.

When you build your perfect modern striker, the list reads like this: pace, strength, link-up play, movement in behind, pressing, aggression and an ability to create chances at will. Now ask yourself, who does that remind you of?

When the crowd laments five missed chances in a game, I see something different. I see the only striker in the league who gets five chances in a game.

And I ask you this: what is harder to coach, all of those attributes, or improving a conversion rate from 15% to 20%? At 20%, you are looking at a goal a game.

At 25%, you are looking at a machine. Nicolas Jackson spent three seasons at Chelsea where he divided opinion, more Marmite than mighty.

The modern fan has the memory of a goldfish, rarely seeing beyond the last five games. Take a step back and the numbers tell a different story.

In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, Jackson scored 17 goals in 44 appearances. Didier Drogba, in his first Chelsea season, scored 16 in 41.

And remember, Drogba walked into Mourinho's 2004/05 juggernaut, a side that won the league with 95 points and conceded just 15 goals all season. This is why I am tipping Nicolas Jackson to prove the doubters wrong and emerge as one of the signings of the summer.

Signed by Aston Villa for £65m, he returns to work under Unai Emery, one of the most accomplished managers in the Premier League, and there is no more telling signal in football than a manager who eagerly pursues a former player. He joins what I believe will be one of the most exciting attacking units in the league, Jackson, Manzambi and the teenage Senegalese sensation Ibrahim Mbaye.