£80m striker now keen on signing for Newcastle, he could be Howe’s very own Demba Ba – opinion
Newcastle United Intensify Striker Hunt Amid Alexander Isak Uncertainty – Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson Emerges as £80m Target
Newcastle United find themselves in urgent need of attacking reinforcements as the 2025/26 Premier League season edges closer. The situation at St James’ Park is dominated by the uncertainty surrounding Alexander Isak, whose future has become a major talking point on Tyneside.
Despite manager Eddie Howe and the club hierarchy repeatedly stressing that the Swedish international is not for sale, Isak is reportedly determined to engineer a move away. This tug-of-war has cast a shadow over the Magpies’ pre-season preparations. Whether the 25-year-old remains in black and white or secures a high-profile transfer elsewhere, Newcastle’s need for fresh attacking options is undeniable — particularly following the departure of Callum Wilson to West Ham United, which has left a sizeable gap in the squad.
Over the past weeks, the Magpies have been linked with a long list of potential recruits in their bid to bolster their frontline. While several names have been floated, one player has now emerged as the club’s priority target.
Nicolas Jackson – Newcastle’s New No.1 Striker Target
The club’s pursuit of a marquee striker has already hit some roadblocks. Slovenian forward Benjamin Šeško, once high on Newcastle’s wishlist, opted to join Manchester United from RB Leipzig, dealing a significant blow to the recruitment strategy. Interest in FC Porto’s young Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa has also been noted, but it appears the focus has shifted firmly onto Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.
According to a report from Football Insider, Newcastle have identified the 24-year-old Senegalese international as their top target following the Šeško setback. Chelsea are believed to value Jackson at around £80 million, and crucially, the forward is said to be open to the idea of a switch to Tyneside amid growing tensions with new Blues boss Enzo Maresca.
Jackson’s time at Stamford Bridge has been a mixed bag. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, inconsistency in front of goal has drawn criticism — with talkSPORT pundit Alan Brazil bluntly remarking that the striker “tries but can’t finish.” Still, the raw numbers tell a different story. In his last two seasons, Jackson has netted 31 goals in 85 appearances for Chelsea, a strike rate that actually surpasses the early Newcastle career record of a certain Demba Ba.
Could Jackson Be Newcastle’s Next Demba Ba?
Ba’s arrival at Newcastle in 2011 turned out to be a masterstroke. Having scored seven goals in just 13 appearances for West Ham United, he took his game to new heights on Tyneside, finding the net 29 times in 58 matches and becoming a fan favourite in the process. His debut season heroics even helped propel Newcastle to an unexpected fifth-place finish in the Premier League. Then-manager Alan Pardew praised Ba’s “natural eye for goal,” a trait that became his trademark.
Jackson’s critics may not yet place him in Ba’s category, but there are striking similarities. Both players arrived in the Premier League with question marks over their consistency, yet possessed the physical attributes, movement, and work rate to trouble defences. Under Howe’s guidance — a manager who has transformed Isak into one of the league’s most feared forwards — Jackson could similarly refine his game and flourish in a system that plays to his strengths.
Howe’s track record in developing attackers gives Newcastle fans reason to be optimistic. With Isak, he turned a promising but inconsistent forward into a clinical finisher, while also getting the best out of players such as Miguel Almirón and Anthony Gordon. If Jackson were to follow the same path, the Toon could be looking at a striker capable of leading their charge not just into the top four, but perhaps even challenging for silverware.
The potential signing of Jackson would not just be about replacing Isak or Wilson — it would be a statement of intent. Newcastle, backed by ambitious owners and buoyed by Champions League aspirations, need a player who can consistently deliver at the highest level.
For now, the focus remains on resolving the Isak saga, but with the clock ticking down to the transfer deadline, securing a proven yet still developing talent like Jackson could be the move that defines Newcastle’s season.