Newcastle transfer target open to move but senior…

Newcastle transfer target open to move but senior source makes club's position 'very clear'

Joao Pedro is interested in a move to Newcastle United but Watford are adamant the forward is going nowhere after turning down the Magpies' opening offer.

ChronicleLive understands Pedro would, unsurprisingly, be open to returning to the Premier League with Newcastle but the Brazilian is not the sort of character who will push for the move as the Hornets prepare to face Birmingham City on Tuesday night. A senior Watford source, meanwhile, told ChronicleLive that 'we have made our position very clear' when it comes to Pedro not being for sale.

Newcastle now have to weigh up whether to test that stance again with an improved offer after having a bid in the region of £20m rejected for Pedro, who still has nearly five years left on his contract.

Pedro certainly fits the profile of player Eddie Howe is looking at after Newcastle missed out on Hugo Ekitike, among others, earlier this summer. As well as being just 20 years of age, Pedro has experience of playing in the top-flight, which is an added bonus, and countrymen Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton would already be at the club to help him settle in.

The versatile Pedro can play across the frontline and is the sort of intelligent, hard-working footballer Howe likes to work with - even if he is still a little raw. Pedro actually scored a late equaliser against Newcastle at St James' Park back in January and Howe admitted the goal left players and staff 'devastated in that moment'.

Pedro ultimately only scored three goals last season as Watford were relegated, but the youngster is someone with real potential and the Hornets are desperate to keep hold of him. Watford have already lost Emmanuel Dennis to Nottingham Forest, while fellow forward Ismaila Sarr continues to be linked with a move away from Vicarage Road, but the Hornets always planned to get back in the Premier League with Pedro in the side.

Watford are under no immediate pressure to sell Pedro so Newcastle's next move will be intriguing - just days after the goalless draw at Brighton served as a timely reminder of the need to bring in more firepower in the final weeks of the window. Brighton had seven times as many shots on target than Newcastle at the Amex and Howe had few alternatives to try and change the game from the bench.

"We're looking," Howe told reporters after the game. "We are aware there's certain parts of the squad we would love to strengthen and give us more options.

"That's no reflection of anybody we currently have in our squad. We have shown we love everybody. We love the group. There's a very good feeling internally about the dynamic of the team so we desperately don't want to harm that, either."

Newcastle are open to permanent and temporary deals and the Magpies will be at the front of the queue if Chelsea decide to let Christian Pulisic or Callum Hudson-Odoi go out on loan later in the window. There is a strong relationship between the owners of the respective clubs and Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi were at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea's fiery 2-2 draw against bitter rivals Spurs on Sunday.

Newcastle transfer target open to move but senior source makes club's position 'very clear'

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