‘Newcastle nightmare as Chelsea use Saudi cash to win race for Brighton star Pedro’
Eddie Howe’s nightmare of a summer transfer window continues to unfold as Newcastle United have been pipped to yet another signing.
The Magpies have made just one single addition to their squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign so far, signing 18-year-old prospect Antonio Cordero from Malaga on a free transfer.
It is fair to say that supporters are massively underwhelmed by the club’s lack of urgency to make signings ahead of their Premier League rivals, and they are set to suffer another massive blow.
Newcastle have been interested in Brighton star Joao Pedro for several seasons, with Mick Brown telling Football Insider that Howe’s side were eyeing the 23-year-old’s signature this summer.
That appears to have failed, however, with Enzo Maresca‘s Chelsea now agreeing a deal to sign the Brazilian international ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Chelsea win race for Joao Pedro’s signature at Brighton
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein (29 June), the Blues have agreed a deal worth over £50million with the Seagulls, with personal terms already in place for a contract lasting until 2032.
Maresca’s side are currently away at the Club World Cup, and now having reached the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Benfica on Saturday, 28 June, the transfer appears to already be almost paid for.
The club have already made over £40million at the American tournament [BBC Sport], which is being funded by Saudi Arabia [BBC Sport], essentially only having to pay £10million to add yet another striker to the ranks ahead of next season.
Howe will surely be fuming with the club as transfers continue to stall at St James’ Park, with Pedro’s signature not the only one the Magpies have missed out on already.
It will also surely not be lost on him that the club’s owners have essentially boosted the transfer fund at Stamford Bridge, helping the Blues win this transfer race.
Eddie Howe’s frustrations grow over failed Newcastle United transfers
Newcastle have been interested in Marc Guehi for over a year, though Liverpool now look to have taken the lead to sign the Crystal Palace star, leaving just Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in defence.
Remaining in defence, Liverpool’s Jarrell Quansah appears to be on his way to Bayer Leverkusen rather than St James’ Park, still leaving Howe with zero heads through the welcome doors.
The sudden departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell is unlikely to have helped proceedings, but with plenty of figures still working behind the scenes, there is no excuse for the current transfer implosion.
Reacting to the devastating news, iNews’ Mark Douglas wrote on X (29 June): “Let’s wait and see. Last time they missed out on Pedro, they went and got Isak. But optics aren’t stunning right now, are they? Pedro was definitely a top target.”
The Magpies will be playing Champions League football once again next season, but after a mixture of results to end the league season, it is evident that reinforcements are needed this summer.
Confidence around keeping star striker Alexander Isak is at an all-time high, but adding Pedro to the attack would have provided the manager with a whole new dynamic in the final third.
Now, with Chelsea stealing ahead to secure the Brazilian’s signature, it is back to the drawing board for Newcastle, who continue to frustrate their fans with a lack of action in the transfer market.