Chelsea could reportedly be prepared to include one of their current attackers in a deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United this summer.
The Blues are said to have touched base with the Magpies to enquire about the Swedish centre-forward, who finished third in the race for the 2023-24 Premier League Golden Boot.
Isak came up with 21 goals in 30 top-flight contests for Eddie Howe's last season, only fewer than top scorer Erling Haaland (27) and Chelsea's own Cole Palmer (22).
With the 24-year-old still under contract until 2028, and Newcastle making other sales to improve their Financial Fair Play situation, the Magpies have no need to accept a cut-price figure in the current summer window.
As a result, Chelsea have supposedly been informed that they will have to stump up a club-record fee if they wish to prise Isak away from St James' Park, eclipsing the £115m that they signed Moises Caicedo for last year.
© Reuters
Chelsea to use Nicolas Jackson in swap deal?
As the Blues have no intention of going that high, The Sun claims that they are instead giving consideration to offloading current number nine Nicolas Jackson as part of the agreement.
The Senegal attacker arrived last summer to fill the void left by Kai Havertz's transfer to Arsenal and came up with a praiseworthy 17 goals and six assists in 44 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino in 2023-24.
However, Jackson was often guilty of wastefulness in the final third, hence Chelsea's pursuit of yet another new number nine for their first campaign under Enzo Maresca.
While the West London giants reportedly regard Jackson as an "important figure" at the club, they would have no qualms about letting him go if it made a deal for Isak more feasible.
Chelsea splashed out £31.4m to sign Jackson last summer and tied the 23-year-old down to an eight-season contract, meaning that he is not due to become a free agent until June 2031.
Chelsea on mission to offload unwanted strikers
© Reuters
Whether Chelsea can successfully twist Newcastle's arm with the Jackson offer remains to be seen, but a couple of strikers lead the way for exits from Stamford Bridge this summer nonetheless.
Romelu Lukaku and Armando Broja are due back at Stamford Bridge from recent loan spells at Roma and Fulham respectively, and neither appears to have a future in West London, even with a new man in charge.
Lukaku's future should not be resolved until he concludes his Euro 2024 campaign with Belgium, who face France in Monday's last-16 clash, but Broja's Albania were knocked out during the group stage of the tournament.
Chelsea would apparently be prepared to take a hit of over £60m on Lukaku and accept less than £35m for their £97.5m arrival this summer, where a permanent return to Italy may materialise.
The Blues have already sold one attacker in a club-record deal, as Omari Hutchinson's £22m move to Ipswich Town was confirmed on Sunday evening.
