Newcastle United are still keeping a close eye on Watford forward Joao Pedro as the youngster continues to impress in the Championship, Chronicle Live understands. The Magpies have remained in the hunt for the highly-rated attacker ever since failing to secure his signature last summer and will have no doubt been impressed by the performances on show in England's second tier this term.
Pedro opened the scoring after six minutes during Watford's 2-2 draw with Coventry on Monday and put in another fine showing for the Hornets, who look set to miss out on promotion this season. Watford's position six places and six points outside the play-off places means Pedro's future at the club remains up in the air.
The young forward, 21, signed a long-term contract with the club just last September, keeping him at Vicarage Road until June 2028 while also giving him an increased salary amid interest from top flight suitors. However, nine goals and four assists across 31 Championship appearances this season means Pedro is once again expected to be chased in the summer.
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Newcastle had looked set to sign Pedro before talks stalled and Alexander Isak was instead purchased in the final stages of the summer window instead. Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe were both keen on the young talent but the Magpies were happy to walk away from the deal in the end.
AC Milan are another team to have joined the race for Pedro in recent weeks but any attempts to sign him may fall flat, just like their pursuit of Sven Botman, due to the finances involved. The Italian outfit are unlikely to be able to afford Pedro's fee unless they sell prized San Siro assets this summer.
“I can say that he has an ‘England’ price, we haven’t received any requests or proposals from Italy,” Watford’s sporting director Cristiano Giaretta told Tuttomercatoweb in March. “He has many admirers in the Premier League but the truth, and we are happy about it, is that he is 110 per cent focused on our run-up to the play-offs.”
Newcastle are unlikely to be put off by Watford's expected demands for the player after unloading £40m on Anthony Gordon in January. With sponsorship deals in the offing and transfer funds essentially left over from earlier this season, a squad overhaul is expected on Tyneside in the coming months.
Newcastle have already proved they are not afraid to revisit previous failed transfer targets as seen by their pursuit of both Botman and Gordon. Pedro ticks a lot of boxes and would provide another layer of depth in attack for the St James' Park outfit in a season that looks certain to contain European football.
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