(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Thu 7 August 2025 13:00, UK

Chelsea are in no mood to let Nicolas Jackson leave on the cheap after he became the latest target of Newcastle United’s striker search.

German club in contact with Liverpool over 22-year-old valued at £40m – The Athletic	Pedro Neto and Chalobah react to Nicolas Jackson's update away from Chelsea	Five clubs considering a move for Nicolas Jackson after Chelsea reveal

Jackson has slipped to third choice in Enzo Maresca‘s striking ranks at Stamford Bridge after the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, both of whom made instant impacts in their Club World Cup success.

The Senegal international has therefore been tipped to leave Chelsea this summer and has been linked with five Premier League and Serie A clubs, one of which is an increasingly frustrated Newcastle side.

Newcastle’s transfer window has been one to forget so far with Liverpool’s new striker Hugo Ekitike one of several number nines they’ve missed out on this summer, and Benjamin Sesko is set to be the next.

Nicolas Jackson was Chelsea’s first-choice striker for most of last season (Credit: Imago)

Eddie Howe has already seen Ekitike rebuff St.

James’ Park in favour of a move to Anfield, and recent history looks ready to repeat itself as Sesko pushes to complete a £74million switch to Man United instead.

Jackson emerged as the next target of Newcastle’s desperate striker search, but the Daily Mail reported on 6 August that Chelsea are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to his true value.

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The Mail’s report details that Chelsea are keeping a close eye on Sesko’s situation and likely destination before deciding their stance on Jackson, who they value at higher than both the Slovenian and Ekitike.

Sesko‘s transfer fee looks set to cost north of £75m in total and Ekitike’s £69m switch to Liverpool may rise as high as £79m, but Chelsea see Jackson as a striker worth more than both in-demand frontmen.

Manchester United are one of the clubs keen on Nicolas Jackson (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Unlike Ekitike and Sesko, none of the transfer discourse surrounding Jackson this summer has implied that he’s the first-choice target for any clubs interested in him, but this may be subject to change.

Sesko and Ekitike are arguably second-choice picks for Newcastle and Liverpool respectively too, however, as both clubs want current Magpies striker Alexander Isak to lead the line for them next season.

At face, the duo appear to be neck-and-neck with Jackson a distant third after just 10 league goals last season, but the Senegal striker already has two full seasons of Premier League experience under his belt.

Statistics 2024/25Nicolas JacksonHugo EkitikeBenjamin SeskoAppearances (League)303333Goals101513Expected Goals (xG)12.321.610.0Non-penalty xG12.319.38.4Assists585Shot Accuracy44.7%38.6%43.9%

According to FBRef, Jackson’s shot accuracy outweighs both Ekitike and Sesko’s in league matches despite fewer appearances than the pair last season, and his tally of 10 isn’t boosted by penalties.

Ekitike’s huge underperformance on his expected goals (xG) could be a worry for Liverpool next season if he emulates the erratic Darwin Nunez’s finishing, while Sesko’s low non-penalty xG might suggest that chances could be hard to come by in the final third.

Jackson’s £80m price tag at Chelsea may cause interested clubs like Man United to baulk this summer, but unless Ekitike and Sesko both hit the ground running next season, the Blues’ decision to keep their powder dry will be vindicated.

The cost seems excessive at first glance but should either of the new imports have any difficulty in adapting to the Premier League Jackson’s record of performance, while not spectacular, will justify the premium Chelsea appear to be putting on it.
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