Jackson to Newcastle? - Price gap goes public as Toon approach Chelsea over deal

The summer transfer window has forced Newcastle United to accept a harsh reality regarding the club's position in the transfer market.

Because of who our owners are, we're perceived as being as equally wealthy and have unlimited transfer funds available to us.

That is clearly not the case due to PSR. Hefty price tags attached to Newcastle targets also pose an ongoing challenge, which may only get worse if selling clubs sense our desperation after a tough summer full of setbacks so far.

And now according to a new report, we've been quoted a simply extortionate fee for another striker target who will become a major one to watch if our ambitious pursuit of Benjamin Sesko fails...

Newcastle face unreal fee for Jackson

According to the i's Mark Douglas, Chelsea are quoting clubs a whopping £80m if they want to sign Nicolas Jackson, as the Blues look to balance the books after another window of lavish spending.

Douglas states that we have made an initial approach for the Senegalese striker, but internally value him at 'closer to £65m'; a similar fee to what we were willing to pay for Hugo Ekitike before Liverpool pounced.

Jackson, alongside Ollie Watkins, was quoted as being a new striker identified as an option should we sell Alexander Isak this summer. RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is another option, while Yoane Wissa of Brentford is considered the direct replacement for Callum Wilson, with two strikers potentially needed.

The 24-year-old managed 10 goals and five assists in 30 appearances last season, but as the face of the new project up top? Many fans aren't convinced and it's understandable why given his likely cost and tendency to miss chances.

Sesko, Jackson, or someone else for Newcastle?

On the surface, Jackson might be the preferred signing when compared to Benjamin Sesko.

Whilst marginally older, he has the Prem-proven experience that our recruitment team has been looking for in summer targets, and it would be taking an option away from Chelsea in the race for Champions League football next season.

Both players would cost around £70m to buy, but there's a greater appeal surrounding Sesko: it's far more of a statement signing, and it's a player who by current accounts would be keen to join our project rather than buying a Chelsea cast-off.

A move for Ollie Watkins is probably off the cards, as Aston Villa have previously told Manchester United that he's not for sale this summer, whilst telling them exactly how much they're asking for Emiliano Martinez: logically, if Villa were willing to sell, they would have named their price by now.