Overview

• Newcastle have reignited their pursuit of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro three years after a near move from Watford collapsed.
• Brighton & Hove Albion have set a roughly £70 million price for the 23-year-old, more than double Newcastle’s previous offer.
• Pedro is unwilling to join without assurances of a first-choice striker role, creating a key hurdle in talks.
• Champions League qualification has boosted Newcastle’s transfer budget, enabling them to pursue high-profile attacking targets.
• Eddie Howe’s side is also monitoring Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo as an alternative target.