Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson favours a move to Newcastle United

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson favours a move to Newcastle United should he leave the Stamford Bridge club this summer, according to the Telegraph.

Newcastle have been in the market all summer for a number 9 to play alongside Alexander Isak at the St James’ Park club, and they will hope they can finally land one before the transfer deadline.

The Magpies target has been training on his own after telling Chelsea he wants to leave and they have agreed to sell the 24-year-old.

Newcastle are not the only club interested in Jackson, but he favours a move there, with Champions League football likely a factor.

He was left left out of the squad for Friday’s friendly at Stamford Bridge against Bayer Leverkusen and was also not on the bench against AC Milan yesterday.

The Toons lost the race for Slovenia international striker Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United, and his Chelsea counterpart has emerged as an option.

They were ready to do a €85 million deal for the former RB Leipzig star and may need to pay something close to sign Jackson.

Chelsea want at least €76m for him – double what they paid to sign him from Villarreal in 2023, and he also has eight years left on his current contract after signing a long-term deal last September.

Newcastle could do with his strength and pace in attack and they will hope to beat other suitors to his services after missing out on most of their key transfer targets so far this summer.

The Senegalese has found himself behind Liam Delap and Joao Pedro in the pecking order at Chelsea after the striking duo were signed this summer, and he needs to leave if he wants regular playing opportunities.

The Toons could provide him with that chance as manager Eddie Howe is open to playing two strikers going forward, and talks could take place between both clubs in the coming weeks.