(Credit: Imago, Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Wed 29 April 2026 12:00, UK

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Newcastle United are contemplating whether they are willing to meet Chelsea’s “high” asking price for striker Nicolas Jackson this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The Senegal international is due to return to Stamford Bridge after Bayern Munich decided against exercising their option to buy, but it is understood that the Blues are still holding out for a fee close to the £56million purchase option from that loan.

The Magpies expect that it will be difficult for them to convince the 24-year-old to join without the lure of Champions League football, while sources say that he will have a wide range of options open to him across Europe.

Chelsea are set to play hardball to ensure that they get a lucrative deal for the frontman, as he remains under contract with them until the summer of 2033.

Newcastle are eyeing a rebuild to their squad ahead of next season, and Jackson has already been identified as a strong candidate to strengthen their attack.

Newcastle want Nicolas Jackson to fix striker issues

Newcastle have had issues with their strikers this season, as the big-money buys of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa haven’t worked out as planned so far.

The pair cost the North East outfit a combined total of £124m when they were signed from Stuttgart and Brentford respectively last summer, but have returned just eight league goals between them this term.

As a result, Eddie Howe has regularly turned to the makeshift options of Anthony Gordon and William Osula to lead the line for his team, although a new addition in that department is a key priority for this summer.

Jackson has struck 10 goals for Bayern in all competitions during his loan spell, and managed to hit double figures for Chelsea in his last Premier League campaign.

He was regularly criticised for the quality of his finishing at Stamford Bridge, but he has continued to be a player who is on the radar of some of Europe’s leading clubs.

Newcastle are clear that they want to try and sign him this summer, but Chelsea’s expectations in terms of their valuation may make a deal difficult to strike.

‘Jury still out’ on Jackson as Magpies move could be on

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider at the end of March that the “jury is still out” on Jackson around the Premier League, after his inconsistent seasons with Chelsea.

The Scottish businessman questioned whether he would be the right solution for Newcastle, and added that he “hasn’t really delivered” as the main striker for one of the league’s top clubs.

Wyness expects that a move for Jackson may not provide the improvement that Newcastle are necessarily expecting, and he instead urged Howe to try and stick with Wissa and show faith in him next season.

He noted that the former Brentford man may perform better as part of a strike partnership, rather than leading the line on his own, and he thinks Howe should explore that possibility in pre-season.