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Talks intensify between Newcastle and Watford for Hornets’ striker Joao Pedro, with Championship side pushing for £30m fee for 20-year-old Brazilian
- Newcastle are desperately trying to recruit a new striker before window closes
- Joao Pedro of Watford is in the frame but Championship club are standing firm
- Hornets want £30million for him but Newcastle could pay £25m plus add-ons
- Magpies have been frustrated in their pursuit of some top talents this summer
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Newcastle and Watford have still to agree a fee for Joao Pedro as talks intensify over a £30million deal.
The Magpies previously had a bid of £20m rejected but remain keen on the Brazilian, who can play as a striker or out wide in attack.
Discussions have centred around a £25m base fee with add-ons and a ten percent sell-on but Watford are pushing for the £30m fee.
Joao Pedro remains of interest to Newcastle and talks are ongoing around the fee
Pedro, 20, remains one of Watford’s most prized assets and the Championship club are committed to keeping the player after seeing Emmanuel Dennis leave for Nottingham Forest.
The Magpies view Pedro as a player who can still improve massively given his age and he would suit their needs at the top end of the pitch.
He is now in his fourth season at Vicarage Road having joined from Fluminense in 2020, scoring 14 times from 76 appearances in all competitions since then.
Watford head coach Rob Edwards previously said that a further offer could be entertained by the club, with himself and the board likely to sit down and discuss it.
‘The bid (£20m previous) that has come in that’s been talked about, it’s not anywhere near the level that we’d expect it to be for him, but we’re involved I’m involved in that conversation,’ he said.
Pedro has impressed for the Hornets and can play anywhere across the front line
‘If anything else was to come in again, then we’ll sit down and talk about it as a club and as a board.’
Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s recruitment department have been frustrated this summer by their inability to land their top targets.
The club has been linked with, at various stages over the summer, the likes of Jack Harrison, Harvey Barnes and James Maddison.
The Saudi-backed takeover of the club last year is likely to have contributed to selling clubs putting what some are calling a ‘Newcastle’ premium on players the club are interested in signing.
Eddie Howe is desperate to strengthen his attacking resources before the window closes