Nicolas Jackson U-turns over Chelsea stay with Newcastle given lower asking price | Football

Nicolas Jackson has told Chelsea he wants to leave following interest from Newcastle United, according to reports.

Jackson was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge on Friday.

The striker, who was signed in a £32 million deal from Villarrreal two years ago, had initially indicated that he wanted to stay at Chelsea despite the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap this summer.

However, The Guardian reports that Jackson has now informed Chelsea’s hierarchy that he wants to move before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report adds that Newcastle are frontrunners to sign Jackson, while Chelsea would be willing to accept a fee of around £65m having initially valued the 24-year-old at £80m.

Speaking this week, Maresca refused to rule out the possibility of Jackson leaving Stamford Bridge.

‘When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico’s situationm’ Maresca said.

‘At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao [Pedro] and Liam [Delap]. So we will see what happens.’

Chelsea have also held further talks with Manchester United this week over a deal for Alejandro Garnacho, who has agreed personal terms.

Maresca’s side are also looking to finalise a deal with RB Leipzig for Xavi Simons.

Newcastle, meanwhile, continue to make the signing of a new striker a priority ahead of their Premier League opener away to Aston Villa next Saturday.

Eddie Howe has lost Callum Wilson to West Ham on a free transfer, and admitted on Friday that Alexander Isak is unlikely to feature against Villa next week as he continues to train away from the first team after Liverpool’s £110m bid was rejected earlier this month.

‘We’ve had discussions and it’s clear at the moment we can’t have him involved with the group,’ Howe said.

‘I don’t know how long that will be for. It’s clear I can’t involve him with the team at the moment.

‘He is training later than the rest of the squad. There have been discussions since the tour. I don’t think disciplinary action has happened.

‘I’d want Alex to be playing today, I’d want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us – let me make that absolutely clear. There’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome.

‘But I don’t see that changing before Aston Villa, the current situation we’re in.’

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