Newcastle United are exploring the striker market amid uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak’s future.
The Sweden international wants to join Premier League champions Liverpool, who earlier this month had a £110million bid rejected. Sources on Merseyside claim the Reds won’t return with an improved bid until Newcastle make progress on a striker deal on their own.
Regardless of the Isak situation, Newcastle want a striker as a replacement for Callum Wilson, who recently joined West Ham United on a free transfer. Yoane Wissa has been identified as that man, with United hoping to agree a deal once Brentford sign a replacement.
Wissa scored 19 Premier League goals last season, so he would arrive with lots of pedigree. But in terms of a replacement for Isak, Newcastle are eyeing a ‘bigger name’ so to speak.
Eddie Howe’s side last week agreed a fee with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko but the Slovenian opted to join Manchester United instead. Before that, United opened talks for Joao Pedro and Hugo Ekitike but soon lost out to Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively.
Nicolas Jackson prefers Newcastle United move
In exploring other options, Newcastle are among the clubs to have shown interest in Chelsea’s Jackson. And according to the Daily Telegraph, the Senegalese striker favours a move to St James’ Park.
Jackson is open to leaving Stamford Bridge and was left out of the squad for weekend friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan. The Guardian reports that the Blues had valued Jackson at £80million but will likely accept a reduced fee of £65m.
Since joining from Villarreal two years ago, Jackson boasts a respectable record of 30 goals in 81 appearances, however now finds himself behind Pedro and Liam Delap, another player who Newcastle showed strong interest in at the beginning of the summer.
Alexander Isak situation at Newcastle United amid Liverpool interest
Newcastle won’t consider Isak’s exit until a replacement is lined up. Even then, it would be up to Liverpool to meet their valuation, which is understood to be around the £150million.
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Isak missed the club’s pre-season tour of Asia due to a “minor thigh issue” but that did not stop him from travelling to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad. Isak returned to Newcastle’s training ground last week but has been training at the separate to his teammates.
The 25-year-old wasn’t involved in the weekend friendlies against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park, with Howe admitting his situation is unlikely to change ahead of facing Aston Villa on the opening day of the campaign on Saturday.
Howe was asked on Saturday what it would take for Isak to return to action and the head coach said: “That's not for me to answer. That's for him to answer. But, yeah, it's probably not, again, worth going into detail.”
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