Joao Pedro celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
Joao Pedro is a key transfer target for Newcastle United this summer.
The new Premier League season is almost here with the 2025/26 campaign on the horizon for Newcastle United and their rivals.
For the Magpies it will be a campaign that will again involve Champions League football. But they face a bit of a longer wait to find out their schedule in that competition.
Newcastle will however find out their league fixtures today (Wednesday), with preparations taking another step up. A lot of those will be done in the current transfer window.
The club have been linked with several possible transfer moves over the next few weeks, as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen the squad.
With that in mind, ChronicleLive has taken a look at a couple of the latest stories doing the rounds and given our views on them.
Joelinton interest
Newcastle are looking to fight off interest in midfielder Joelinton this summer, according to reports.
TalkSPORT claim that PIF-owned clubs in Saudi Arabia are showing an interest in the Brazilian, but the Magpies do not want to sell. Joelinton has become a key player at St James’ Park since being converted to a midfielder.
ChronicleLive says: As Newcastle prepare to return to the Champions League, the key thing in this window is to keep hold of all the key players who got them there. While there has been a lot of talk over Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, another one is Joelinton.
Therefore, Newcastle must resist any approaches for the midfielder this summer, unless clubs come in with a ridiculous offer.
Joao Pedro fear
Another report from TalkSPORT claims that Newcastle are wary of a hijack of their move for Joao Pedro by Chelsea.
The Magpies are said to be readying a formal approach for the Brighton man this summer with the forward rated at a price of £70 million. He has emerged as a key target for Eddie Howe after the club moved on from Bryan Mbeumo, who looks to be heading to Manchester United.
However, the club are said to be concerned about Chelsea becoming an option for Pedro by making a move for the player, with the Stamford Bridge outfit having form of signing players from Brighton over the last few years.
ChronicleLive says: Chelsea have signed a lot of players from Brighton over the last few transfer windows, meaning that there will be an established relationship between the two clubs.
Newcastle will not want to be dragged into a bidding war for Pedro, they will therefore hope to get a deal done quickly before other clubs have the chance to make their moves.
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