Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro is willing to play in a right wing role in order to join Newcastle United this summer, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
Joao Pedro has just enjoyed a superb season for Brighton, one that has piqued the interest of Newcastle and several other Premier League clubs.
In 27 Premier League games, the 23-year-old scored 10 goals and provided six assists, a striker who is vying for a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad next summer.
And whilst Newcastle are fully expecting to keep star striker Alexander Isak at the club for their return to the Champions League next season, Pedro has emerged as a key target.
Pedro has appeared on Chelsea’s radar recently, but it’s Eddie Howe’s side who could now be in pole position for a deal.
Joao Pedro tells Newcastle he’s ready to play on the right wing
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has now confirmed that Newcastle have had conversations with Pedro, following his ‘massive fallout’ at Brighton.
Brighton are ready to sell Pedro for the right price and Howe is a huge fan of the Brazilian.
Speaking to TBR, Bailey explained: “Joao Pedro to Newcastle is a real thing now.
“Pedro has had a massive fallout at Brighton, the club played it down but they are ready to let him go now. I say ‘let him go’, they are ready to sell him for a certain price.”
“I think his price will be below £60m because of that falling out with Jan Paul van Hecke, who’s going to get a new deal — Pedro wants out now really.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
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“Pedro wants out at Brighton and I’m told that he’s informed Newcastle that he would be willing to play in a wide right role for them as well as up front.
“Let’s not forget Eddie Howe loves Pedro and Newcastle spent a long time trying to sign him from Watford when Brighton swooped in.
“Newcastle love the player and it ticks an awful lot of their boxes if they can bring someone in who is going to play on the right and also in the middle.”
Alan Shearer has already shared his Joao Pedro verdict
Speaking towards the end of last year in November, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer had some very kind words to say about Pedro at Brighton.
Newcastle are also interested in Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is set to leave Everton this summer.
But when it comes to Pedro, Shearer perhaps explained why Newcastle would be making a good move in pursuit of the Brazilian, labelled his efforts against Bournemouth last November as ‘brilliant’.
Analysing Pedro’s goal in Brighton’s 3-1 win on Match of the Day, Shearer said: “This for me is a brilliant centre-forward goal. The way he follows it up and he is expecting the rebound to get there.
“He reacts before anyone else does and then he gets his reward. His hold-up play was superb at times when he had to keep hold of the ball and bring his team-mates into play.”
A superb striker who is even willing to shift out wide for Newcastle next season, such is his ambition to play for the club.