Newcastle United insider believes they might have pipped Chelsea to Joao Pedro had they acted faster last month | OneFootball

Newcastle United missed out on Joao Pedro to Chelsea, with the forward choosing to leave Brighton & Hove Albion for the Stamford Bridge club earlier this week.

The St James’ Park club will now have to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements and have tabled an improved £55 million bid for Nottingham Forest forward Anthony Elanga.

However, a Newcastle insider has told The Athletic that a deal was there for the taking in mid-June for Pedro had they acted faster.

The Magpies were under the impression that the 23-year-old was keen on a move to St James’ Park and were the first club to make an official bid in the final fortnight of June.

However, their offer was not close to Brighton’s £60m valuation, and Chelsea eventually won the race as they were convinced he wanted to join them over Newcastle.

The north-east club came close to signing Pedro from Watford in 2022, and he admitted in an interview the following year that he was upset about the transfer not going through.

Some people at Newcastle believe the episode played a role in his decision this summer, but he could have had doubts about his opportunities with Alexander Isak the first-choice striker.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe had planned for Pedro to both complement and stand in for the Sweden international, but he was unconvinced and will now ply his trade elsewhere.

Elanga could prove to be a better option in the long run, and Newcastle will be hoping Forest agree to finally sell him after they were turned back last summer and last month.

They need to appoint a new sporting director after Paul Mitchell left last month. They have been linked with a move for former Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto.