Newcastle United reportedly anticipate a challenging transfer battle for a highly-rated forward, with concerns growing over a specific Premier League competitor.
Newcastle United are reportedly worried that Club World Cup participants Chelsea could hijack their bid for Brighton's Joao Pedro.
The Magpies are preparing a formal offer for Pedro, valued at £70 million, and the Brazilian is believed to want a summer move.
Newcastle fear Chelsea threat
As reported by talkSPORT, Newcastle are concerned about entering a bidding war.
The report states that several Premier League clubs and European teams are also interested in Pedro, who has long been admired by Eddie Howe.
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The Brighton man’s versatility, capable of playing as a striker, No. 10 or winger, is said to appeal to the Newcastle boss.
Pedro joined Brighton from Watford in May 2023 for a club-record £30 million, and enjoyed a strong debut season, scoring 20 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions.
The forward then reached double figures in the Premier League for the first time in the 2024-25 season with 10 goals.
However, his season also had controversial moments, highlighted by Pedro avoiding a red card in December against Brentford despite an attempted elbow.
He also received a red card in April for lashing out at Nathan Collins, leading to a five-game suspension.
What’s next for Newcastle?
Newcastle, who return for pre-season in July, travel to Aston Villa in the opening gameweek of next season.
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