According to Epic Sports agent Andrea Pellegatti, who handled Nicolas Jackson’s transfer to Chelsea from Villarreal in the summer, the Blues moved most quickly and decisively to get signing done.

The striker had been linked to other European sides, including AC Milan but Chelsea won the race to sign the striker in a deal worth €37million.

“Milan were one of the many teams to have taken an interest in the player. Nothing particularly concrete: it was an intuition of the Rossoneri, it is true, but at the beginning of the market, before there was more budget related to the sale of Tonali,” Pellegatti told Sport Italia.

“In the end, Chelsea was the club that moved most quickly and decisively. A situation that was unblocked as early as June.”

Playing for Villarreal last season, Jackson scored 13 goals and provided five assists in 38 appearances. He has scored once in six appearances since joining Chelsea.