Nicolas Jackson wants Newcastle move as RB Leipzig eye Nkunku

Senegal forward tells Chelsea of his desire to leave, with Eddie Howe’s side his preferred destination.

Nicolas Jackson favours a move to Newcastle United should he leave Chelsea during this transfer window.

However the forward’s chances of securing the transfer largely appear dependent on whether Newcastle relent and sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

Telegraph Sport reported on Saturday that Isak has been told by the Newcastle board that he is not for sale this summer and will not be allowed to join Liverpool, which has angered him.

However, and despite Liverpool saying their offer of £110m, which was rejected, would be their only bid, it is understood that Liverpool are still exploring whether they can sign the striker in a saga that might run until deadline day.  With three years still to run on Isak’s contract, Newcastle’s asking price has been £150m.

Jackson emerged as a serious option for Newcastle after they lost out on Benjamin Sesko when he chose Manchester United over them last week in a £73.7m deal. Newcastle were also beaten by Chelsea to João Pedro’s signature. 

Eddie Howe has been desperate to add to his forward line, with Chelsea willing to sell Jackson and, now, the 24-year-old accepting it is best for him to leave.

It is believed that Jackson has told Chelsea he wants to go – they have agreed to sell – and was left out of the squad for Friday’s friendly at Stamford Bridge against Bayer Leverkusen. The Senegal striker has also been training on his own.

Although Newcastle are not the only potential option for Jackson – and it remains to be seen whether they would bid for him in addition to trying to keep Isak – it is the one he favours. However, Chelsea are in talks with a number of teams in the Premier League and across Europe.

It is by no means certain that Jackson will be sold, with Chelsea only considering to agree to the transfer if it is in their interests and the right deal can be struck.

They are not desperate to sell him and want at least double the £32m they paid to sign him from Villarreal in 2023. Jackson signed a nine-year contract in September last year.

Jackson has reached double figures for goals in both seasons at Chelsea and has been seen by Premier League clubs as a solid striker option, despite not having the profile of other No 9s in the top flight.

RB Leipzig keen on Nkunku return

RB Leipzig want to re-sign Christopher Nkunku as part of the deal to sell Xavi Simons to Chelsea.

Chelsea are keen to move on several players, including Nkunku – who wants to leave – before pushing ahead with bids to sign Simons and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.

Leipzig have been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott should Simons be sold. But the Bundesliga club are more interested in exploring whether they could bring back Nkunku and receive cash from Chelsea.

Nkunku was sold to Chelsea in June 2023 for £52m. However, the 27-year-old’s career at Stamford Bridge has failed to take off after initially being hampered by long-term injury.

The France international has made it clear he wants to leave before the transfer window closes, and Chelsea want to sell. Leipzig, where he scored 16 times in 25 appearances in his final season at the club, would like to take him back.

Chelsea have yet lodge a bid for Simons but know there is strong interest and talks about a deal have taken place between the club.

The German club value the 22-year-old at close to £60m, having signed him from Paris St-Germain, after a successful loan spell, for £43m in January.

The structure of the swap deal – and in particular how much cash Leipzig want for the Netherlands international – remains to be seen. It is also unclear as to whether Nkunku wants to return to his former club.

However, the talks show that Leipzig are willing to trade, even though they have just sold striker Benjamin Sesko to United for £74m.

A deal for Simons would not end Chelsea’s interest in Garnacho, although they will attempt to negotiate down United’s current asking price of £50m for the 21-year-old Argentina international, who wants to make the move.

Chelsea have already signed Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens and brought in Willian Estevao this summer. But they want as many as nine players competing for their attacking positions in the forthcoming season.

Simons is working with high-profile agent Ali Barat over a summer move. Barat has strong links with Chelsea, having facilitated Noni Madueke’s transfer to Arsenal.