Nicolas Jackson: Chelsea hoping to benefit from sliding doors moment after collapse of Bournemouth move

Nicolas Jackson is in London and set to have his Chelsea medical on Sunday; Blues are close to a final agreement with Villarreal over the signing of the Senegal forward; Villarreal wanted the €35m release clause paid in full.

It follows Gwyneth Paltrow's character Helen and the two paths her life could take depending on whether or not she catches a train one day.Nicolas Jackson was still three years away from being born, but the man Mauricio Pochettino is pinning his hopes on at Chelsea has already experienced his very own Sliding Doors moment.

Bournemouth were close to signing the 22-year-old back in January from Villarreal only for the deal to collapse amid concerns over a hamstring injury he had suffered. Jackson failed a medical on the south coast.The Cherries had indeed agreed a £21m fee but with relegation still a serious possibility, they needed as many fit players as possible and opted not to gamble on Jackson's status.

Had he moved to Bournemouth, would Jackson have predominantly played wide of Dominic Solanke, once of Chelsea? The player would shake off those concerns with a blistering end to the campaign for the Yellow Submarine.Upon his return in March, Jackson was moved into a more central position and scored 10 LaLiga goals in 11 games as Villarreal finished in fifth place and secured a Europa League berth. He won May's LaLiga player of the month award.

Such form has inflated the forward's value to meet his €35m release clause - although it is thought Chelsea will pay slightly more in exchange for more favourable payment terms. Jackson was born and raised in Gambia but represents Senegal. He impressed in his home nation at ASC Tilene and Casa Sports de Ziguinchor before moving to Spain in 2019, initially joining Villarreal's Juvenil A.