Newcastle United now move into formal talks to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton – Report | OneFootball

Newcastle United are now to have formal talks with Brighton and Hove Albion, to try and sign Joao Pedro.

Last week, it was confirmed by a number of the more reliable Newcastle United media that the club had made an initial approach to Brighton.

Now on Monday (16 June 225), The Telegraph are reporting as an exclusive that Newcastle United are moving into formal talks to try and get a deal completed for Joao Pedro.

Brighton have already added a forward this month, committing over £30m to the capture of 18 year old Greek prospect Charalampos Kostoulas.

Whilst that doesn’t automatically mean Joao Pedro will be leaving, it certainly fits the pattern of how they operate in the transfer market. Joao Pedro was signed for £30m two years ago and the general view appears to be that if he leaves this summer it will be in a deal amounting to around £60m in total. So potentially using around half of Pedro’s incoming transfer fee to fund a replacement.

Newcastle United were interested in signing Joao Pedro from Watford in summer 2022, before then signing Alexander Isak in a deal worth £63m.

Joao Pedro is more of an all round forward who can play across the front line and if signings, can play alongside Alexander Isak, as well as through the middle in his absence.

Also, The Telegraph add that Newcastle United interest still remains in trying to sign Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest as they look to create a range of attacking threats so NUFC can compete on all four fronts next season, including the Champions League.

Whilst Newcastle United of course have longstanding interest in Marc Guehi for the centre of defence, this Telegraph report says that amongst the other potential targets who have been regularly scouted is Ousmane Diomande of Sporting Lisbon. The 21 year old Ivory Coast international is 6ft 2 tall, has pace and the ability to bring and play the ball out of defence.