Newcastle United have apparently backed out of their move for Benjamin Sesko after losing the race for the attacker to Man United, MySportDab reports.
They have now fell back to available options on the domestic scene to upgrade their forward line for the next campaign.
We reported earlier that Manchester United overtook the Tyne-based outfit in the race for Sesko despite submitting a lesser offer as the player chose them over the Magpies.
Following the deadlock, Eddie Howe’s side are now eyeing Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea as potential alternatives. While Watkins still remains on their radar, they have stepped up their move for Nicolas Jackson.
According to Indykaila News, they have begun negotiations with Chelsea for Jackson to speed up the move.
Jackson signed an eight-year contract with Chelsea after joining from Villarreal in 2023. He recently extended the deal till 2033 and is considered a key part of the Blues’ squad.
However, Chelsea are reportedly open to his transfer exit this summer given the wave of new attacking recruits in the ongoing transfer window.
Nevertheless, there is a caveat; the Londoners are only ready to part ways with the Senegalese at their asking price for the player pegged between €80m to €100m.
It is still unclear whether Newcastle will meet this price, but they are expected to table an optimal first offer close to the fee to stand a chance of forcing the Blues’ hand to sell.
Jackson has 24 goals with 10 assists in 65 Premier League appearances in his two seasons with Chelsea and could prove a big addition for the Magpies who are desperately looking for Alexander Isak replacement.
