Newcastle United have reportedly made a verbal offer worth up to £30 million in their final attempt to sign Joao Pedro from Watford.
Fabrizio Romano has provided a fresh update on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Joao Pedro. The reputed Italian journalist has claimed that the Magpies have verbally made their final offer worth £25 million plus £5 million in add-ons to sign the Brazilian striker from Championship club Watford.
Newcastle United are understood to have submitted an initial bid of around £20 million including add-ons earlier this month, which was quickly snubbed before they made an improved offer of £22 million plus £3 million. But Watford have turned the proposals down as they want to get around £30 million for the youngster, who still has three years left on his deal at Vicarage Road.
The expectation was that Newcastle United would return with a third bid for the player, and they have, albeit with a verbal offer. It is likely to be a take it or leave it proposal, with the Magpies not shy of walking away from pricey deals, as demonstrated throughout the summer transfer window.
Pedro arrived in England from Brazilian outfit Fluminense in January 2020. And if Newcastle’s latest bid is approved, Watford may earn more than tenfold on their initial investment. But the Championship outfit are reluctant to surrender Pedro, having already lost Emmanuel Dennis to Nottingham Forest. They have also accepted a £25 million bid for Ismaila Sarr from Aston Villa.
Newcastle are still in negotiations for João Pedro despite second bid being turned down by Watford tonight. It’s not over, yet – talks ongoing. ⚪️⚫️ #NUFC
Today’s bid was worth £22m plus £3m in add-ons but Newcastle will try to push again.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 18, 2022
The 20-year-old has racked up 14 goals thus far for 78 appearances for Watford, including ten goals in 42 Championship appearances. The Hornets hope for a stellar season in the second division that would propel them to another Premier League promotion. But Pedro craves top-flight football and is pushing for a move to Tyneside to join Newcastle’s Brazilian contingent of Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes.
With the clock ticking on the transfer window, Newcastle are still in desperate need of an attacker. Pedro clearly fits the bill of what they want; he is young, versatile, technical, and has an excellent work ethic to top it off. The Magpies would be getting a top-talent in Pedro, a player with a high ceiling and relevant experience of English football and the Premier League.
If Watford really have set a £30 million valuation for potentially selling Pedro, there is not a big gap to bridge. It could all depend on how realistic and achievable the add-ons are included by the Magpies. Whether Newcastle United’s final verbal offer could finally crack the code to seal the deal for the Brazilian striker remains to be seen.
