Newcastle set for another striker battle? – £80m fee slapped on ‘serious’ target
Newcastle Face Transfer Dilemma as Chelsea Demand £80m for Nicolas Jackson Amid Isak Uncertainty
As the clock ticks towards the end of the summer transfer window, Newcastle United are faced with an increasingly difficult conundrum. If the club are to sanction the sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool before the September 1st deadline, they must first secure a high-calibre replacement — a task that’s proving easier said than done, especially given the current scarcity of top-level strikers available on the market.
After missing out on long-term target Benjamin Sesko — who now appears bound for Manchester United — Newcastle’s attention has reportedly turned to Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson. However, according to The Daily Mail’s Chelsea correspondent, Kieran Gill, the Blues have slapped an eye-watering £80 million price tag on the Senegalese international.
This valuation is believed to be based on Jackson’s goal involvement record over his first two seasons in English football, where he has been directly involved in 44 goals. Chelsea consider him ‘Premier League proven,’ and are using recent high-profile striker deals — such as RB Leipzig’s £75m valuation of Sesko and PSG’s £79m demand for Hugo Ekitike — as justification for their own inflated price.
Jackson, 24, joined Chelsea from Villarreal in 2023 for a fee of around £32m. Despite flashes of quality, his time at Stamford Bridge has been marked by inconsistency and growing pressure. That said, Chelsea are believed to be open to selling the player, particularly with the recent arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, both of whom were also admired by Newcastle before choosing Stamford Bridge over St James’ Park.
The issue, of course, is the valuation. For Newcastle, the notion of paying £80m to a direct Premier League rival for a player who scored just 10 goals in 30 league appearances last season is difficult to justify — particularly when that money could go toward a more proven or value-for-money alternative. There’s a strong sense that Chelsea are simply taking advantage of Newcastle’s desperate need for a striker after yet another key target has slipped through their fingers.
That’s not to say Jackson is without merit. The forward has shown glimpses of significant potential, and some underlying statistics suggest he could fit well into Eddie Howe’s system — which thrives on pace, pressing, and intelligent movement. At his best, Jackson offers athleticism, versatility, and a solid technical foundation. In the right environment and under the right guidance, he could blossom into a more consistent and dangerous frontman.
However, the context cannot be ignored. Paying £80m for Jackson — a player Chelsea themselves bought for less than half that sum just two years ago — feels like a steep overvaluation. While it’s true that today’s striker market is inflated, Newcastle would arguably be better off pursuing other options unless Chelsea are willing to lower their demands considerably.
If the price tag were more realistic — say in the region of £40-50m — Jackson might represent an exciting gamble with long-term upside. But at £80m, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that Newcastle would be paying a premium born out of panic, not prudence. And as the Magpies inch closer to losing their star striker, Alexander Isak, the risk of overpaying for a replacement looms larger with each passing day.
Ultimately, the success or failure of Newcastle’s transfer window may hinge on their ability to resist inflated deals while still bringing in the quality needed to remain competitive. And in the case of Nicolas Jackson, the line between ambition and desperation may be blurring far too quickly.