It is fair to say that the 2025 summer transfer window has been a turbulent one for Newcastle United so far. The Magpies have missed out on several key targets, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike signing for Premier League rivals.
Another player they failed to sign was James Trafford, who returned to his boyhood club, Manchester City. Instead, Aaron Ramsdale seems set to become Newcastle’s new number one, with David Ornstein confirming that the England international will move to St James’ Park on a season-long loan with the option to buy him in 12 months.
With a new goalkeeper finally through the door, Newcastle seem like they will once again turn their attention to signing a new striker.
Newcastle’s new striker target
Targeting players from within the Premier League has been a theme of Newcastle’s summer business so far. Anthony Elanga joined from Nottingham Forest, and they have also been in for Mbeumo and Trafford this summer.
According to a report from TEAMTalk, Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson could be the next Premier League star they target. The Senegal forward is someone that the Magpies ‘have set their sights on’ signing. Manager Eddie Howe is believed to see the 24-year-old ‘as a key piece in his vision’ for the 2025/26 campaign.
This is a deal that could work out for both clubs, with Chelsea looking to ‘streamline their squad’ and Newcastle in the market for two strikers. However, they will not be the only English top-flight club chasing the £60m-rated attacker.
The reports suggest that he is ‘on the radar of no fewer than 10 Premier League clubs’, although several sides view him as a second-choice target.
Why Jackson would be a good signing
The 2024/25 campaign was a bit of a mixed bag for Jackson. The Chelsea star was an important cog in the works at Stamford Bridge, although he did struggle for consistent form despite regularly finding the back of the net at the start of the Premier League season.
In 37 games across all competitions, Jackson managed 13 goals and grabbed six assists. 15 of those goal involvements came in 30 top-flight games. He flew out of the traps with 12 goals and assists in the first 15 league games, but injuries certainly hampered that form.
The former Villarreal striker got himself on the scoresheet in the UEFA Conference League final, too. With Chelsea losing 1-0 to Real Betis, he scored the second goal of a fantastic comeback to help steer his side to a 4-1 victory.
The Magpies are also interested in signing Benjamin Sesko this summer, as well as Jackson, if Alexander Isak is to depart, as per the same report from TEAMTalk. However, with Manchester United also in the race, there is no guarantee that they would be able to pull that signing off.
Indeed, Sesko had a strong campaign in 2024/25, too. He bagged 21 goals and registered six assists in 45 games for RB Leipzig. In the Bundesliga alone, he managed the same number of goals as Jackson did in the Premier League, with 13 to his name.
The fact that Jackson scored that number of goals in the Premier League might suggest he is the better of the two signings. He would sign for Newcastle as a player proven in the English top flight, who would need no time to adapt to the pace of the league. Sesko, on the other hand, would need to get up to speed with the Premier League.
When looking at the stats on FBref, there are certainly numbers that suggest Jackson could be a better signing. For example, the Chelsea star averaged 0.41 goal-creating actions and 1.13 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to just 0.34 goal-creating actions and 0.72 key passes each game by the Slovenian star.
|
Jackson and Sesko key stats compared |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90) |
Jackson |
Sesko |
|
Goals and assists |
0.61 |
0.68 |
|
Expected goals |
0.5xG |
0.38xG |
|
Key passes |
1.13 |
0.72 |
|
Goal-creating actions |
0.41 |
0.34 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.9 |
1.78 |
|
Stats from FBref |
||
Jackson is not only a goalscorer, as he has already shown in the Premier League, but a facilitator, too. He is constantly involved in attacking actions, which the stats certainly suggest, and is someone who can offer killer instinct and chance creation in the final third.
Whilst £60m is a huge investment, Jackson can still add the same level of goalscoring to Newcastle’s squad that Sesko can deliver, whilst also offering better creativity.
As football scout Antonio Mango said, the striker is “magic”, and he could certainly bring that to St James’ Park. He might be an even better signing for Newcastle to make.
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