Newcastle United are set to step up their summer recruitment drive next week with the club ready to make the first moves for Brighton’s Joao Pedro as well as advancing on right-wing targets.
The i Paper reported last month that Pedro was a top attacking target and there has been encouragement on the player’s side about a move to Newcastle.
The sales pitch to Pedro and other forward targets has been that Eddie Howe is considering evolving his system in certain games to play two up front – which means that any incoming attacking signings would not be forced to play second fiddle to Alexander Isak.
Pedro appeals because he has versatility – which Howe cherishes – but the belief among Newcastle’s scouting team is that he has a very high potential ceiling, is the right age and has Premier League experience.
Pedro could play next to Isak (Photo: Getty)Any prospective move remains at a very early stage, with Brighton’s asking price likely to be around £60m. Given Newcastle want to sign four players this summer – a centre-back, right-sided forward, attacker and goalkeeper – there is a recognition that player trading may have to support their recruitment drive if they are to land all of their top targets.
It’s understood that Brighton are open to selling Pedro, who was dropped from the matchday squad for the final game of the Premier League season after clashing with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke on the training ground.
Pedro is a long-term target of Howe’s, with Newcastle getting close to signing him two years ago when he was still at Watford. A deal could not be brokered back then – although it was at an advanced stage – and he moved to Brighton, where he has scored double figures in both of his seasons.
So far it has felt like a frustrating start to the close season for Newcastle, with fruitless attempts made to sign Dean Huijsen and Liam Delap – who both had release clauses – and a decision not to pursue interest in Bryan Mbeumo, who preferred Manchester United. His wage demands meant Newcastle did not even register their interest with Brentford.
But there doesn’t seem to be any sense of panic at Newcastle, who have other targets to move on and remain in talks with Callum Wilson about a heavily incentivised new one-year contract.
Elanga is being monitored by Newcastle (Photo: Getty)
It was reported that an initial enquiry for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga – another long-term Howe target – was made last week and there’s certainly interest in Isak’s Sweden teammate.
The i Paper understands that Newcastle have also been alerted to the possibility of Chelsea’s England international Noni Madueke becoming available. He was part of recruitment discussions last summer but it’s understood there was not unanimous support for the move. Whether that changes will likely depend on Newcastle’s success with other targets.
Goalkeeper James Trafford is another definite target although Newcastle’s determination to retain John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie means there’d likely need to be movement among the other senior stoppers to allow that to happen.
One source described Newcastle’s business as “complicated” this summer, with asking prices high and their ability to manoeuvre still affected by their position in relation to Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in future seasons.
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While there is no requirement to sell this summer and their position is much healthier than it was 12 months ago, Newcastle are still looking for players like Pedro and Elanga who have potential to improve rather than established internationals.
“As much as we would want, and it’s much easier for me to bring in a ready-made world-class player, I don’t think we have done that since I came here because we haven’t been able to financially,” Howe said after the final game of the season against Everton.
“We are not in the position of the other clubs. We have brought them in and we make them that. I don’t envisage that changing because of the PSR restraints on us.”
The intent remains, it’s now about converting it into moves for Howe’s top targets for Newcastle’s hierarchy.
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