Enzo Maresca confirms Nicolas Jackson will not be part of Chelsea squad for West Ham clash as Blues boss gives update on striker's potential transfer away from Stamford Bridge

The writing remains firmly on the wall for Jackson at Stamford Bridge after Maresca confirmed he won't feature in the squad for the London derby with the Hammers. The Blues boss revealed he has two favoured forward options in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, having left Jackson out for the season curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace.

Jackson has failed to secure a position at Chelsea despite scoring 13 goals last season and 17 the year prior to that. The stumbling block to his departure is the Blues' asking fee - thought to be around £60 million ($81m) - which could put off rumoured suitors Aston Villa, who are facing financial restrictions.

Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Maresca said: "He is available but he's not going to be part of the squad because, we already said, we have two strikers, we have two players in that position and also we know that something can happen before the transfer window closes." 

On the Senegal international's future, he added: "No idea, to be honest. No idea. You know already from last season that I prefer to be focused on training sessions, prepare the game and these kind of things. I don't know." 

Jackson will hope Villa can design a deal that works for Chelsea and doesn't fall foul of financial restrictions. The Blues haven’t failed to score in their opening two league matches of a campaign since 1995-96 and Maresca will hope to avoid another goalless draw after the blank on the opening weekend against Palace.