Joao Pedro Eddie Howe Newcastle United
(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Fri 4 July 2025 8:30, UK
Joao Pedro’s decision to reject Newcastle United for Chelsea this summer has left Eddie Howe in a tough position, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Howe’s reaction to missing out on the Brazilian.
Chelsea announced the £60million singing of Pedro on Wednesday and he joins a growing contingent of ex-Brighton players in West London, but Newcastle had been seen as front-runners for the 23-year-old.
Newcastle had planned for Pedro to be one of three new arrivals totalling £175m this summer, but have once again been rejected by one of their top targets as Howe’s frustration grows at St. James’ Park.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson lambasted the “insane” PSR and FFP rules which have limited Newcastle’s spending, and sources have now told Football Insider that Pedro’s rejection has hit hard.
Joao Pedro playing for Brighton
Brighton’s Joao Pedro had been pursued by both Chelsea and Newcastle (Credit: Imago)
‘Newcastle tax’ scuppers Joao Pedro transfer
Newcastle‘s billing as the “world’s richest club” after the Saudi Arabian PIF fund’s takeover has resulted in newfound success, but that success has been slowed by the need to adhere to PSR and FFP rules.
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Champions League qualification for has left Newcastle well placed to keep the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak, but a financial windfall hasn’t helped them attract the biggest names.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that Howe is increasingly frustrated with Newcastle’s inability to sign their top targets, and that their financial strength has actually proven to be a hindrance.
“Eddie Howe says [that] when they do try and sign players in transfer windows, there’s a Newcastle tax included on the price tags of some of these players”, he told Football Insider.
“That’s what he finds frustrating and I’m told he is personally devastated to miss out on Pedro – clubs know what kind of money Newcastle have got, [so] they always bump up the price tag and they’re not able to get these deals over the line.”
Newcastle United players
Newcastle are desperate to give Eddie Howe the squad depth he needs this summer (Credit: Imago)
Newcastle need to change their transfer narrative
Pedro certainly isn’t the first player to rebuff Newcastle in favour of a move to a Premier League rival instead, and their luck in the summer transfer window so far suggests that he won’t be the last either.
Bryan Mbeumo has already informed the Magpies that he’d prefer a move to Man United despite their lack of European football, and Howe has turned his attention towards West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus is another player who looks certain to be on the move this summer, and if Newcastle can get a deal over the line, the Ghanaian could prove to be the first domino to fall in turning their transfer fortunes around.
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