Nicolas Jackson's stint at Chelsea was marred by his inability to capitalize on clear scoring opportunities, earning him a reputation as an unreliable finisher. However, this does not necessarily mean that top clubs are mistaken in considering the Senegalese striker. The insights of Brentford owner Matthew Benham, who spoke at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, are particularly relevant in this context. Benham emphasized that a striker's ability to get into position is far more significant than their finishing skills, as there is a considerable amount of randomness involved in the latter.
He illustrated this point by citing the example of Beto at Everton, a principle that also applies to Jackson. Benham's analytical background has been instrumental in Brentford's overperformance, and his comments shed light on Jackson's strengths. Despite his struggles with finishing, Jackson excels at finding positions that result in shots, making him one of the best in the Premier League at creating chances. Since the start of the decade, only Erling Haaland has a higher expected-goals figure per 90 minutes than Jackson, excluding penalties, among players with at least 5,000 Premier League minutes.
Jackson's loan spell at Bayern Munich saw him continue to get into excellent positions, and his goal return was impressive, with 11 goals in all competitions. However, he was limited by the number of minutes he played, starting only 15 matches. In terms of goals from open play in the Bundesliga, only Harry Kane had a better record per 90 minutes. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany is an admirer of Jackson, praising his training and performance.
Kompany noted that Jackson did his job well, especially towards the end of the season when he scored in three consecutive Bundesliga games. The prospect of Jackson reuniting with Unai Emery at Aston Villa is intriguing, given their past success at Villarreal. Emery had a significant impact on Jackson's development, teaching him how to play more effectively and transforming him into a different kind of player. Jackson has expressed his gratitude to Emery, stating that the coach taught him everything about football and helped him evolve as a player.
With Jackson still only 25 years old, there is plenty of room for growth and development. Emery's experience and guidance could be instrumental in unlocking Jackson's full potential, making their reunion at Villa a promising prospect.