Chelsea set to net £115m profit as Delap and Jackson near exits to Forest and Villa

Chelsea are on the verge of raising £115m through the sales of strikers Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson, with the pair having been frozen out of Xabi Alonso’s first-team plans and training separately from the main squad alongside other transfer-listed players.

Delap’s departure is the more advanced of the two deals. The 23-year-old is set to undergo a medical at Nottingham Forest ahead of completing a move worth up to £50m — an initial £45m fee with £5m in potential add-ons. Chelsea paid Ipswich £30m for Delap just 12 months ago, meaning the Blues will turn a notable profit despite the striker scoring only three goals in 49 appearances. Delap had recently lost the No.9 shirt to Joao Pedro, accelerating the decision to move him on.

Jackson is expected to follow him out of Stamford Bridge, with Aston Villa signalling their willingness to meet Chelsea’s £65m asking price. The fee would make the 25-year-old Senegal international Villa’s record signing. Unai Emery’s side are seeking a replacement for Ollie Watkins, who is pursuing a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Chelsea originally signed Jackson from Villarreal for £32m in the summer of 2023, and he went on to score 30 goals in 81 appearances for the club before spending last season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he netted 11 times as Harry Kane’s backup. Bayern declined to exercise a permanent option worth £56m.

The combined proceeds are expected to fund Chelsea’s activity in the closing days of the summer transfer window. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez is also being linked with a departure, with Manchester City reportedly weighing up a £120m bid. Should Fernandez leave, Alonso is understood to be targeting Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a replacement — Chelsea had a £64m offer for the midfielder rejected last month.

Alonso has been characteristically guarded on the subject of outgoings. Asked about Fernandez’s future after Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Fulham, the manager said: “In football, I am not surprised by anything. We will see. My wish is that we know what will happen for the future but we will see this week.” Ahead of the Carabao Cup second-round tie against Luton, he added: “About transfers, personal situations, I am not the one to ask. I don’t know.”