According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are interested in signing hot prospect Nicolas Jackson.

The outlet previously revealed that Eddie Howe was aiming to invest in players in the final third in January, having been in the market for another attacker during the summer. 

Meanwhile, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie recently told GIVEMESPORT that part of the Magpies’ recruiting strategy and long-term plan is to bring in younger talents who they can develop and ‘turn into top players’.

It now seems that their search has led them to La Liga and Villarreal winger Jackson, as reported by Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider.

Newcastle join Jackson transfer race

Sources have told the site that the Toon have joined Everton in the race to sign the 21-year-old starlet.

It states that the forward’s current employers are ‘keen to keep hold’ of their prized asset, but he has a £29m release clause which could force the club into a sale.

The same source also claims that both the Tyneside outfit and the Toffees have had scouts watch the Senegalese ace this season and have received ‘glowing reports’.

‘Beginning to shine’

Jackson’s stock has drastically risen since the start of the campaign after emerging as a regular in the Yellow Submarine’s line-up.

Earning comparisons to Neymar in his homeland, the attacker – who can play anywhere across the front line – has started five of his team’s first six league matches this term.

He made his senior debut at Villarreal just under a year ago, and after obtaining a regular starting berth, he managed to score in his first La Liga start and has since provided another assist.

The youngster duly received his first international call-up, and while he didn’t feature for Senegal during the current international break, he is just ‘beginning to shine’ according to RadioMarca’s Rafa Mainez and could be a very shrewd prospective signing for PIF.