Newcastle in transfer blow as Premier League rival steps up chase for Brighton star

Chelsea will rival Newcastle for the signing of their top summer target Joao Pedro, talkSPORT understands.

The Blues view the Brighton striker as an excellent fit in their system as they look to steal a march on the Magpies.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is desperate to bring Pedro to St James’ Park

3
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is desperate to bring Pedro to St James’ ParkCredit: AFP

The Seagulls have already knocked back two offers for the ex-Watford star, with the Magpies having a £50m bid rejected.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has made Pedro – valued at more than £60million – his top forward target and the Toon are expected to increase their bid.

But Chelsea are also keen on landing the Brazilian international, with it understood that they are optimistic of securing his services should they pursue a deal.

Howe’s side have been pursuing a move for Pedro since May, with Chelsea only entering the race earlier this month.
Read more football news

Pedro, who has also been considered by Liverpool in the window, is believed to have expressed a desire to leave the Amex this summer and Howe has been a long-term admirer of the forward.

The 23-year-old’s willingness to play as a striker, No.10 or out wide appeals to the ex-Bournemouth manager.

Should Pedro make the switch to Newcastle, he would become the club’s third Brazilian on the books alongside Joelinton and captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Pedro joined Brighton from Watford in May 2023 for a club-record fee of £30m and looks set to make a hefty profit should he depart the Seagulls this summer.

The Brazilian netted an impressive 20 goals from 40 appearances across all competitions in his debut season at Brighton.

Of his 20 strikes, nine were scored in the Premier League, while five came via the FA Cup and an additional six in the Seagulls’ Europa League campaign.

Brighton are looking to maximise their profit on Pedro

3
Brighton are looking to maximise their profit on PedroCredit: Getty

He then reached double figures in the league for the first time in the 2024/25 season with ten Premier League goals.

However, it was not a season without drama.

During a clash against Brentford in December, Pedro avoided a red card despite attempting to elbow an opponent.

Pedro looked to race away from Brentford’s Yehor Yarmoliuk, but the Bees midfielder held back his rival by pulling on his shirt.

The act enraged Pedro and he threw an elbow in Yarmoliuk’s direction but missed him completely.

Luckily for the Brazilian, he escaped any punishment as the VAR deemed it was not a red card offence.

The Brazilian has enjoyed two fruitful seasons with the Seagulls

3
The Brazilian has enjoyed two fruitful seasons with the Seagulls

Pedro also missed a stretch of five games towards the end of the season.

A red card suspension due to lashing out at Brentford’s Nathan Collins in April accounted for three of the games.

But he missed the final two games following a training ground row with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler confirmed an incident had taken place but tried to downplay the severity of it.
Read More on talkSPORT

“With Joao we had a small issue in training, a type which isn’t uncommon from time to time in all football clubs,” Hurzeler said in May.

“We dealt with it internally, and the matter is closed.”

Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for FREE on DAZN

*If you click on a link in this Box Out we will earn affiliate revenue

This year’s FIFA Club World Cup will see the top teams from around the world competing to be crowned champions.

Here’s how to watch every game for free on DAZN:

Sign Up: Go to the DAZN website and create a free account
Select Your Package: Choose the free standard coverage
Enjoy the Action: Watch all of the FIFA Club World Cup free on DAZN

From Harry Kane to Erling Haaland, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be packed with the most exciting football from the world’s top talent.

Newcastle’s owners accused of funding rivals’ transfer business with Club World Cup fees

Newcastle’s majority shareholders the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund [PIF] have been accused of funding their Premier League rivals.

PIF bought an 80 per cent stake in the Toon in October 2021 after a year-and-a-half legal battle with the top-flight and beIN Sports was finally resolved.

PIF’S Yasir Al-Rumayyan is the Magpies’ chairman

4
PIF’S Yasir Al-Rumayyan is the Magpies’ chairmanCredit: Getty

That stake has since increased with Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi selling their shares to the Saudi company.

However, PIF has invested millions and millions into the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup, which is helping Newcastle’s Premier League rivals avoid problems with the Premier League’s spending rules [PSR], and help Chelsea and Manchester City in the transfer market.

Certainly, that is the view of financial expert Stefan Borson.

Speaking on the Saturday Session to Sam Ellard and Kevin Nolan, he spoke about the amount of money PIF are investing in the tournament.
Read more on Newcastle

He said: “At the 11th hour [Gianni] Infantino managed to get a friendly £1billion from PIF.

“It came through DAZN, but PIF had just put £1bn into DAZN, and, coincidentally, we have a Saudi World Cup.

“But it is serious money, City and Real Madrid are looking at $35million [£25.5m] each just for turning up, and on top of that, they’ve earned about another $15m [£11m] so far.

“So, the scale of the prize money is very, very significant.

“City have already earned the same amount of prize money as Spurs did for winning the Europa League, and Chelsea have almost doubled what they made from the Conference last season.”

Chelsea have already been busy in the transfer market

4
Chelsea have already been busy in the transfer marketCredit: Getty

The figures from the Club World Cup are so obscene, and given Newcastle aren’t in it, their owners are indirectly funding the club’s rivals.

Specifically on that, Borson remarked: “PIF, who own Newcastle, are behind all of the money we just talked about at the Club World Cup.

“They are funding a whole list of teams that are not only going to be up against them in the Premier League, but in the Champions League.

“So, you have an immediate, bizarre contradiction.

“It’s clear Newcastle have taken a very cautious approach. Why they haven’t pushed the boundaries in the way that Chelsea did, they would have to explain.

“It could be because they don’t want to attract a whole load of focus from the Premier League due to the Saudi background, and have therefore, played it very cautiously.

Eddie Howe managed to win a trophy and bring Champions League football to Tyneside without much backing in the transfer market last season

4
Eddie Howe managed to win a trophy and bring Champions League football to Tyneside without much backing in the transfer market last seasonCredit: Getty

“That caution has meant they’ve been close to breaking the PSR limit, but managed to avoid it.

“But they didn’t buy anyone in January, when it looked sensible to do so, and sold Lloyd Kelly and Miggy Almiron.

“You are now seeing an approach that I suspect will mean they won’t spend the money that you would associate with ambition.”

Last summer, Newcastle were forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to comply with PSR rules.

While in terms of incomings, Lloyd Kelly, Will Osula and Lewis Hall’s loan move from Chelsea being made permanent was the club’s only business.

This summer is already proving to be frustrating as well.

Trafford could still end up on Tyneside but negotiations are proving tricky

4
Trafford could still end up on Tyneside but negotiations are proving trickyCredit: Getty

The Magpies tried to sign James Trafford last summer and have seen a £26m offer for the goalkeeper rejected by Burnley, talkSPORT understands.

Talks between the two clubs remain ongoing.

While offers for Anthony Elanga and Joao Pedro have also been rejected.

And Borson believes that all of this is due to Newcastle not wanting to draw any attention to their ownership situation, leading to a measured and cautious approach in terms of transfers and financial deals.

The club have lost two sporting directors in quick succession with Dan Ashworth joining Manchester United before being fired, while his replacement Paul Mitchell is stepping down at the end of June, along with CEO Darren Eales, who is leaving for health reasons.

But there is no replacement for either position lined up.
Read More on talkSPORT

Troy Deeney names the five BEST atmospheres at stadiums he played in

Meanwhile, Man City, Chelsea and the possible Champions League teams that the Magpies could face next year are having their coffers fattened by the Toon’s owners.

It is a strange situation, and if Eddie Howe’s squad isn’t significantly strengthened by the time the transfer window slams shut, the Toon fans are likely to have some questions.