Chelsea Slaps Massive Price Tag on Star Striker Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea are anticipated to set a high asking price for forward Nicolas Jackson, who has become a transfer target for Newcastle United as they attempt to retain Alexander Isak.

Jackson's position at the club has become uncertain following the summer acquisitions of Liam Delap and João Pedro, with Chelsea investing a total of £90 million ($120.8 million) on the duo who could potentially push the Senegal striker down to third in the pecking order.

Manchester United had been connected with Jackson, but seemingly showed minimal genuine interest before finalizing a deal with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Šeško. Newcastle appears to be his most probable next club, though only if a transfer arrangement can be reached.

Chelsea are reportedly willing to part ways with Jackson for the right fee. What may come as a shock is how much the Blues are valuing him, nearly matching what they spent on Delap and Pedro together despite expectations regarding playing time distribution.

The Daily Mail reports a valuation exceeding the £79 million ($106.1 million) that Liverpool paid for Hugo Ekitiké, and surpassing Manchester United's proposed £73.7 million ($98.9 million) Šeško transaction. Chelsea apparently believe that Jackson, having demonstrated his abilities in the Premier League—insofar as 24 goals across two campaigns can be deemed proof—commands a higher fee than either player.

Importantly, it remains unclear how rigidly Chelsea might maintain that stance. However, the general suggestion is that they won't be pressured into accepting a bargain price, and will only sell under favorable conditions.

When addressing media on Thursday, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca didn't dismiss the possibility of Jackson's departure: "During the transfer window, anything is possible. This applies to Nicolas's circumstances as well. We'll see how things develop."

Chelsea, having signed players at a remarkable pace since BlueCo's takeover in 2022, have developed expertise in player sales. They regularly generate profits on players after relatively brief tenures, with Lesley Ugochukwu's £25 million ($33.4 million) move to Burnley being the most recent case. If Armando Broja also joins the midfielder at Turf Moor for £20 million ($26.7 million), the club would exceed £200 million ($266.9 million) in player departures for this transfer period.