Enzo Maresca told Chelsea have player 'who can score as many goals as Erling Haaland'

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been told that Nicolas Jackson can score as many goals as Erling Haaland has notched for Manchester City. The Blues signed Jackson from Villarreal ahead of last season, and the ace is currently enjoying a purple patch in front of goal.

Jackson bagged 14 goals in 35 Premier League appearances last term and had already hit the back of the net on eight occasions this time around ahead of the midweek round of games.

Haaland, meanwhile, registered 75 goals in his first 79 Premier League appearances for the Citizens before his side travelled to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

And former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit told Gambling Zone: “I always knew Nicolas Jackson would turn into a top player – we just had to be patient with him, which is rare with players in football.

“Right now, the Premier League is full of surprises. Pep [Guardiola] has gone seven without a win [at Manchester City] and now Chelsea are proving everyone wrong. So much has changed in the last 10 months.

“Can Jackson be as good as Haaland? Why not? He’s got such amazing players, I have no reason to doubt he can replicate the numbers of Haaland.

“He has such talent around him. [Pedro] Neto, [Cole] Palmer, so many players who can give him the ball to score. His movement and his understanding with his team-mates are great and he’s only going to get better too.”

Chelsea splashed out around £32million to prise Jackson, 23, away from Spain as they handed him an eight-year deal.

He endured a slow start to life in England as he registered just two goals in his first nine top-flight appearances. But his 2023/24 campaign came to life with a hat-trick against Tottenham last November and he has since proven to be a handful for even the best defenders in the Premier League.

On Sunday, Jackson found the back of the net during Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa as the Blues climbed to third in the table.

And ahead of that encounter, Maresca explained: “He is doing very well with us. Since we started, he has been open-minded in what we ask him, and sometimes we require different things from him.

“He’s has an open mind and wants to learn and he’s doing very well, not just in goals and assists, but also the way he works off the ball. The way he presses – he is always aggressive – and we are very happy.”