Newcastle United are actively looking at a replacement for Alexander Isak, who wants to join Liverpool.
The irony of Chelsea pipping Newcastle to the signings of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro from Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively, has seen Jackson drop down the pecking order.
Newcastle have suffered a series of rejections this summer with Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko joining Liverpool and Manchester United. respectively. The Magpies need a striker to replace Callum Wilson and are also actively seeking a replacement for Alexander Isak, who is pushing to join Premier League champions Liverpool.
Newcastle United show interest in Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson
That has led the Magpies to lodge several enquiries, including one for Jackson. And the word is that the 24-year-old is available.
As per The Guardian, Chelsea have agreed to sell Jackson after he was left out of Friday’s friendly against Bayer Leverkusen for requesting to leave. The Blues had valued the Senegalese international at £80million but will likely accept a reduced fee of £65m.
The same publication also claims that Eddie Howe’s side are frontrunners to sign Jackson, who is of interest to other clubs having boasted a respectable record of 30 goals in 81 appearances since joining from Villarreal two years ago.
But as reported by NewcastleWorld earlier this week, Jackson’s wages are a huge stumbling block after he signed a lucrative new nine-year contract until 2033.
Alexander Isak likely to leave Newcastle United
Newcastle want Isak to stay and they still very much hold the cards in that respect, however the player’s strong desire to leave is making hard to keep hold of him.
Isak has trained alone on Tyneside and comments by Howe on Friday has left many speculating on whether the Swede is refusing to train and play.
“We’ve had discussions and it’s clear at the moment that we can’t involve him with the group,” Howe said. So, yeah, I don’t know how long that will be for. That’s the latest.
“I’d want Alex to be playing today. I’d want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us. Let me make that absolutely clear, there is no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome. But I don’t see that changing [the current situation] before Aston Villa.”
Liverpool have already had a £110m bid rejected for Isak but plan to return to the table – if Newcastle sign a replacement.
Eddie Howe on Newcastle United transfers
“I am hopeful,” Howe said when asked about transfers. “But I’ve been hopeful for a number of weeks. Because, as I’ve said so many times, everybody behind the scenes has been working incredibly hard, very keen to try and get some movement in the transfer market.
“But it is difficult. It has to be the right player at the right price. There’s a lot of conditions that have to be right for a transfer to go through.I do believe that we can still produce a very strong team.
“The balance of the squad isn’t quite right, and we know that. We hope to adjust that with some of the signings we hope to make.But let’s wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
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