With less than a week to go until the start of the Premier League season, and with Yoane Wissa still expected to sign, Newcastle United’s stance regarding Alexander Isak still hasn’t changed.
As The Telegraph revealed on Saturday, the Swede is still considered not for sale, with Newcastle’s PIF owners angered by Liverpool’s low-ball offer and refusing to be taken for a ride.
However, if he continues to throw his toys out of the pram, does not train and risks causing issues behind the scenes, some feel an unsavoury exit for Isak is the best route forward – providing we sign TWO strikers and receive a huge offer from Anfield in return.
But who could sign? Well, alongside Wissa, it’s thought another Premier League striker is keen to arrive on Tyneside…
According to The Telegraph, Nicolas Jackson is keen to join Newcastle United after informing Chelsea he would like to leave, with a summer switch to St James’ Park the Senegalese striker’s ‘favoured’ destination.
Last week, the same outlet reported that the 24-year-old had emerged as a ‘serious option’ for Eddie Howe, while links to Bayern Munch were quickly denied after reports on their alleged interest.
Now, with a potential move for Samu Aghehowa in doubt due to Porto’s £80m demands and Wolves demanding a similarly large fee for Jorgen Stand Larsen, Jackson may come back into the picture.
However, The Telegraph’s Jason Burt insists that any move for Jackson will depend on two Alexander Isak factors: Newcastle backing down on a recent ‘not for sale’ stance and Liverpool upping their £110m offer to something close to £150m.
It ‘remain to be seen’ if Newcastle would bid for the striker while keeping hold of Isak, although that seems highly unlikely should Wissa also arrive from Brentford.
Jackson’s position as Chelsea’s primary striker has been under immense threat this summer, with the signings of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro – two players we attempted to sign – pushing both him and Christopher Nkunku down the pecking order.
So with us able to offer the Senegalese international Champions League football and regular first team football, it’s no wonder why he’d seemingly jump at the opportunity to make the switch from London to the North East.
The Telegraph report that Chelsea have already agreed to sanction his exit, with the player making it clear he would like to leave after missing both of their pre-season wins over the weekend and training on his own.
Eddie Howe’s Isak headache could plague him for the rest of the window, as rumours will likely continue to swarm the squad right until the closing minutes of deadline day.
So for the sake of squad harmony and actually having a striker committed to the club, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise for us to try and lock down Jackson – or another striker alongside Wissa – before allowing Isak to leave.
Talk of a £75m+ price tag being attached to Jackson has also changed dramatically, with recent reports indicating he may be available for a fee closer to the £50m mark.
That’s not cheap, but if Isak’s departure pays for Jackson, Wissa, Thiaw and a quality midfielder, it might just be a trade worth doing – providing Liverpool pay up.