· 3 June 2025, 22:00
**Once again, Newcastle United are chasing players whom they missed out on in the past.**
Newcastle have been strongly linked with another attempt to sign Marc Guehi after last summer's epic transfer saga, and many names that have been reported on as potential Newcastle targets this summer have been ones whose names we've heard many times before.
However, even when Newcastle lose out on a player to another club, we don't give up, as Brighton and Hove Albion beat us to the signing of Brazilian forward João Pedro in 2023, but now Sky Sports says the Magpies are back in for the 23-year-old.
Newcastle tried in vain to sign the striker in 2023, but got as far as [having a medical booked before the deal collapsed](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/i-was-upset-ps30m-man-opens-up-about-failed-newcastle-united-transfer-4409721). João Pedro headed to Brighton, and Newcastle signed Alexander Isak instead - not a bad compromise in hindsight.
Newcastle are keen to return for Brighton forward Joao Pedro
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Two years on, though, Newcastle are looking at liberating João Pedro from Brighton to bolster their attacking options ahead of another season in the Champions League.
Sky Sports claims that João Pedro would be signed to replace Callum Wilson, who looks likely to leave St James' Park this summer.
They also stress that Newcastle still want to keep hold of Alexander Isak and João Pedro is not a replacement for Isak.
Newcastle would have a pretty unstoppable forward line if we signed Joao Pedro
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João Pedro scored 10 goals in the Premier League in 27 games for Brighton, but missed the final five matches of the season following a red card for violent conduct in the game against Brentford. That handed him a three-game suspension, with Fabian Hurzeler choosing to leave João Pedro out of the remaining two games after his suspension was up.
Despite that issue, Hurzeler seems keen to keep hold of his star forward, which could make Newcastle's job of bringing him to Tyneside much more difficult.
João Pedro has developed immensely since his move from Watford to Brighton and has often given us pause for thought over what could have been - but then we remember that had we signed him, we wouldn't have Alexander Isak, and suddenly we feel better.
Having both on the side, though, that could be pretty amazing.