Transfer race for £80m Chelsea star heats up with three clubs to rival Newcastle | Football

Newcastle United could be set for yet another transfer blow after three European giants joined the race to sign Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.

The Magpies – who have missed out on a number of targets in the current window – are interested in a deal to sign Jackson, valued at around £80m.

Eddie Howe’s side view Jackson as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak, who has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

Newcastle are keen on Jackson after missing out on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is set to join Manchester United after a fight for his signature.

Which clubs have joined Nicolas Jackson race?

But Newcastle now face an uphill battle to sign Jackson too – after Sky Sports reported that AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich have now all explored the conditions of a deal.

Chelsea are open to selling Jackson ahead of the new season after recruiting Liam Delap and Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window.

Jackson has conjured up 30 goals and 12 assists across 81 games for the Blues since joining the club in a £32m deal from Villarreal in 2023.

According to football transfer expert Florian Plettenberg, German champions Bayern have made an official enquiry about Jackson.

Italian club Juventus, though, are likely to have to sell Dusan Vlahovic in order to proceed in talks for Chelsea’s 24-year-old Senegal international.

AC Milan, meanwhile, reportedly want to sign Jackson on an initial loan deal with an option to sign him permanently.

Chelsea head coach says ‘anything can happen’

Quizzed about Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said: ‘When the transfer window is open – unfortunately, or fortunately – anything can happen.

‘This involves Nico’s situation. At the moment wehave had two strikers arrive – Joao and Liam – so we’ll see what happens.’

Which other strikers are Newcastle looking at?

Newcastle have three alternative options if they can’t sign Jackson – with the club looking at Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

The third striker Newcastle are keeping tabs on is RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda.

The Magpies are currently gearing up for the new Premier League season and face a trip to Villa Park in their opening match on August 16.

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