Chelsea star tipped to be 'better than Erling Haaland' and command £150m fee

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson can be as good as record-breaking Manchester City ace Erling Haaland. He predicts that the Blues could one day receive a mega £150million for the striker.

Jackson has started the Premier League season in good form, scoring four times in five matches. The 23-year-old bagged 14 top-flight strikes in a largely positive debut campaign last term.

But Jackson still has plenty of improving to do to match the heights of Haaland, who has already struck 100 Man City goals in a little over two years. The Norwegian has hit double figures for the 2024-25 Premier League season, despite only playing five matches.

Hasselbaink believes Jackson is not that far off Haaland, though. The Dutchman insists there are elements of the Chelsea forward’s game that his City counterpart cannot do. He has backed Jackson to become a £150m-rated forward in the future.

The former Chelsea man told Genting Casino: “Nicolas Jackson and Erling Haaland are similar ages (23 and 24, respectively). The major difference is, Haaland has a lot more top-level experience in terms of Champions League football. He’s been playing at that level since he burst onto the scene playing for Salzburg and has stayed there.

“Jackson hasn’t done that. That is what Jackson needs to do to be considered one of the best strikers in the world. He needs to be decisive on the pitch and he needs to score goals regularly at the highest level in the game.

“It’s a big challenge for him, but he has the potential to get there. If Jackson fulfils his potential, he will be a £150 million player. I’m convinced of that.”

Hasselbaink explained that Jackson can offer skills that Haaland cannot, adding: “He’s a player that has the potential to be able to do everything. He can play outside the box. He can play with the ball at his feet, those are things that Erling Haaland can’t really do.

“The only thing that Jackson needs to understand is, when he gets involved in the build-up, that game outside the box, sometimes he can try and do too many things. He doesn’t have to do that. Sometimes the best way to get in behind is a simple one-two, a give and go.

“That was the type of goal he scored first against West Ham – take the ball, play it back to the midfielder and go into the space. When the midfielder can find him, he’s in one-against-one with the goalkeeper. Jackson has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world.”