Newcastle United’s chances of landing two of their new top targets have increased after they weren’t involved with their club’s pre-season fixtures on Friday.
The summer has been one disappointment after the next for Newcastle United. Both on and off the pitch.
On it, Eddie Howe’s side have not won in five friendlies after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Espanyol on Friday night. That’s now seven games without a victory if last season’s final fixtures are included.
But the bigger concern is off the field, as Newcastle have endured a terrible transfer window in which they have missed out on eight of their top targets, including Benjamin Sesko, James Trafford and Bryan Mbeumo.
The Toon have only added Anthony Elanga, Park Seung-soo and Aaron Ramsdale to the squad so far, and star striker Alexander Isak is desperate to join Liverpool.
All optimism has been drained from the club ahead of their return to the Champions League and Howe has had to go deep down his shortlist of strikers after missing out on so many.
However, there has finally been some good news after Nicolas Jackson and Yoane Wissa missed their team’s friendlies on Friday.
Nicolas Jackson wearing sunglasses and biting his Europa Conference League winners' medal.
Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Nicolas Jackson left out of Chelsea squad vs Bayer Leverkusen
While Newcastle toiled for a year without spending money in fear of breaking PSR rules, Chelsea have continued to spend freely throughout.
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Enzo Maresca’s side beat Newcastle to Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer and have also signed Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, Estevao, Dario Essugo, Mamdou Sarr and Kendry Paez.
Those eight signings have cost a fine £256.8m and even more are expected, like Alejandro Garnacho.
However, they will need to balance the books.
After recruiting so many new forwards, Jackson’s time at Chelsea appears to be over and he did not play at Stamford Bridge on Friday in the 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Fabrizio Romano posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Nicolas Jackson and Chelsea, it’s over.
“Not only Jackson and Nkunku. Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga also out of Chelsea squad.
“They’re all expected to leave before the end of the window.”
🚨🚫 Not only Jackson and Nkunku. Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga also out of Chelsea squad.
They’re all expected to leave before the end of the window. pic.twitter.com/AirPSMft8A
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2025
View Tweet
Chelsea may want to get rid of Jackson but that doesn’t mean they’re willing to give him up on the cheap, with it reported that the London side want £80m for him.
Newcastle are unlikely to pay that much and are said to value the Senegalese striker, who has 30 goals in 81 games for Chelsea, at £60m.
It’s not yet clear if signing Jackson would be enough for Newcastle to let Isak leave.
Yoane Wissa misses Brentford friendly amid Newcastle United transfer chase
One deal that does appear to be edging closer for Newcastle is the signing of Wissa, who didn’t play as Brentford drew 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Romano also posted on X: “Yoane Wissa, out of Brentford squad tonight as he’s very clear; the plan is to leave and join Newcastle.”
It emerged on Friday that Brentford are targeting Dango Ouattara to replace Wissa and Newcastle are now pushing through to sign him.
Newcastle hope to sign Wissa for around £35m and his representatives have travelled to the UK to hash out the details of the transfer.
The Magpies need to sign a striker after releasing Callum Wilson, who Wissa would replace, and he isn’t seen as a signing that could allow Isak to leave.
However, it’s not yet clear if Newcastle will still pursue Jackson if they sign Wissa.