Chance creation certainly wasn’t often an issue for Chelsea last season.
Only one team created more so-called ‘big chances’ than Mauricio Pochettino’s side in 2023/24. There are no prized for guessing the identity of the club sitting pretty at the top of that particular tree.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
In addition to Man City, however, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United also found the net with more regularity than Chelsea despite carving out fewer gilt-edged opportunities.
And the man so often blamed for those misses – the oft-maligned Nicolas Jackson – is certainly yet to convince Simon Jordan that he can be the long-term silver bullet to Chelsea’s issues in the striking department.
Chelsea like Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak
“I do not think Nicolas Jackson is a solution to their problems,” the former Crystal Palace chairman tells talkSPORT (26 June, 12.50pm). “(Jackson was) getting better throughout the season, but still missing more chances than he scored.”
It’s certainly not hard to imagine that, if Chelsea had a prime era Didier Drogba, Diego Costa or even a Romelu Lukaku, Pochettino would have potentially ended his Stamford Bridge reign with an FA Cup final appearance before being replaced by Enzo Maresca.
Jackson squandered countless opportunities during that devastating semi-final loss to eventual runners-up Manchester City at Wembley.
So no wonder Jordan feels that the potential addition of Alexander Isak could take Chelsea to another level; from the mediocrity of the Clearlake era back to the position they frequently found themselves in under Roman Abramovic.
HITC understands that Chelsea have made an approach for Newcastle United’s £60 million record signing.
“Big club with a lot of money being spent by them,” Jordan says. “Signing a player, if they could, like Isak would be some player for Chelsea.
“I think he is what they are missing in terms of a top-quality striker.
“Chelsea will be an interesting one because we have seen them navigating their way through the financial landscape. It will be an interesting summer.”
It has been well documented that Newcastle may be forced to sell one of their key players this summer to appease Financial Fair Play. Bruno Guimaraes is another who has been tipped to depart, linked with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
HITC can confirm, however, that Chelsea have been told in no uncertain terms that Isak is not for sale at any price. What’s more, Newcastle are planning to hand the silky Swede a new contract that would make him the best-paid player at St James’ Park.
Isak also does not have a release clause in his current Magpies deal.
Likened to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry
The former Real Sociedad frontman has always displayed considerable promise but took his game to an all-new level under Eddie Howe in 2023/24. A tally of 25 goals in all competitions was his best ever return.
There was also interest from Arsenal recently, HITC were told, amid comparisons with club legend Thierry Henry. The Gunners now appear to have moved on to alternative targets.
“I love Isak,” Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said on Match of the Day after his spiritual St James’ successor ran Tottenham Hotspur ragged in April’s 4-0 hammering on Tyneside.
“Not just because of who he plays for or the position he plays in, or his excellent record, but because of how he does it.
“As a kid — he’s still only 24 — he was inevitably compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another Swedish legend. But the comparison they make within Newcastle’s coaching staff is to Thierry Henry. You can see it in that blistering pace, the languid grace, that gorgeous, fluid movement.”
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