Newcastle United are linked with a big-money move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has left the door open for Nicolas Jackson to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Signed two years ago for £32million, the Senegalese international has endured a mixed time in West London. His goal record is solid - netting 30 goals in 81 games across all competitions despite not being a regular starter - but he has still attracted criticism.
Jackson has become synonymous with an erratic playing style, with the tendency to spurn big chances. It is perhaps telling that Chelsea have signed two additional strikers to compete for the No.9 spot.
Newcastle United missed out
Joao Pedro and Liam Delap were both Newcastle United targets earlier in the window. The latter always had his mind set on Chelsea and wrapped up a deal for a £30million release clause early in the window.
However, Newcastle saw an offer rejected for Pedro and, at one stage, were confident in getting their man. Those two early rejections paved the way for a summer of chaos at St James' Park.
Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko have since snubbed the Magpies to leave them back at the drawing board on the striker hunt. Meanwhile, wantaway talisman Alexander Isak continues to train alone while angling for an exit.
Newcastle United like Nicolas Jackson
Newcastle have shortlisted Jackson after losing out on Sesko to Manchester United. The Daily Mail claim Chelsea would do business with the Magpies for £60million.
Bayern Munich, Juventus and AC Milan are also reportedly keeping tabs on the situation. Speaking to reporters, Blues boss Maresca hinted at Jackson being available for transfer.
“Nico is ok,” he said earlier this week. “He’s ok. When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico’s situation. At the moment, we also had two strikers arrive, both of them in the USA, Joao (Pedro) and Liam (Delap). So we will see what happens.”
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Eddie Howe on transfers
Eddie Howe stressed Newcastle are trying to bolster their ranks before the Premier League starts. He said: "We are looking at the best players we can get. We are only looking at the best we can get, I see all situations open and available to us.
"I feel that is the only way we are going to get where we want to go, which is to maximise quality over quantity. That is the way it has always been, the way we work, we try to improve, we have done it pretty well to this point.
"It has been a challenging summer as you know. We have missed out on loads of different targets for different reasons. But we are still very competitive and we are still in there trying to bring good players to the club, that won't change until the window shuts."
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