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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe smiles after Newcastle beat Southampton with mystery figure inset
Credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Transfers

Club now bid £34m for an apparent replacement after Newcastle United show interest in their £60m striker

Billy Meyers
Billy Meyers

Newcastle United could be edging closer to signing a new striker.

Eddie Howe wanted to sign Liam Delap before Chelsea won the race for his signature, which was a blow for the Magpies given the England U21 international’s attractive £30m release clause.

However, Newcastle United were also considering Joao Pedro of Brighton alongside Delap at the time, a striker who the believe Howe is now pushing for, eager to get reinforcements in early.

Now, there has been a development at Brighton involving Charalampos Kostoulas which strongly suggests the Seagulls are preparing themselves to lose the Brazilian to Newcastle United.

Brighton make bid for Charalampos Kostoulas

now reveal that Brighton have offered £34m to sign the 18-year-old wonderkid.

Talks are said to be ongoing between Brighton and Olympiacos, and the bid could be a signal of intent regarding the possible sale of Pedro to Newcastle United.

Fabian Hurzeler typically uses a formation with just one central striker leading the line, so the fact such a large amount of money has been offered for Kostoulas, when Pedro is already at the Amex Stadium, is an interesting decision, as such a strong financial investment is unlikely to be made for a backup striker.

How much Brighton want for Joao Pedro as Newcastle United push for his signature

The Telegraph believe Brighton want to double their money and receive at least £60m for the South American, who they signed in a £30m move from Watford back in June 2023.

It would therefore require Howe to spend double what he initially planned to invest on Delap, although there is clearly a lot of admiration for the Brighton No.9 on Tyneside.

Newcastle United wanted to sign Pedro back in the summer of 2022 – the first summer transfer window under Howe – but saw several bids rejected by Watford.

The 23-year-old has since scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton, an impressive record which has evidently kept Howe interested.

Furthermore, for those wondering whether the interest in Pedro suggests Newcastle United are looking to sign a replacement themselves, amid interest from Liverpool in Alexander Isak, a story from iNews states that Howe plans to use two strikers up top next season.