Newcastle United tipped to win Joao Pedro race thanks to 'amazing' advantage - pundit
Newcastle United have an advantage in the race to sign Joao Pedro thanks to Eddie Howe.
That's according to former West Ham hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Magpies' January plans.
Sources told Football Insider on 21 November that Newcastle have a “concrete” interest in the Watford forward, 21, ahead of the January transfer window.
This site revealed in the summer (15 August) that the club had a £20million offer turned down by Watford in the summer.
The Brazilian then signed a new five-year contract with the Championship club but that has not put Newcastle off as he has impressed with eight goal contributions in 17 league games so far this season.
McAvennie claims Howe's ability to improve players could convince Pedro to join the Magpies.
"This is a young guy we are talking about here," McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
"He has his whole career ahead of him. I think the one thing he will be looking at is, 'where can I improve?'
"Where can he go to take that next step in his career? I think you just have to look at Almiron. The guy couldn't 't hit his own backside last season and now he is scoring for fun.
"Look at Joelinton, look at players like Dan Burn, they have all gotten seriously better under Eddie Howe because he is an amazing coach.
"If a player is looking to improve then there is no better place to go than Newcastle, it's that simple."
Pedro moved to Watford from Brazilian side Fluminense in January 2020.
He scored three times and provided one assist in 31 Premier League games in the 2021-22 season but he could not prevent the Hornets from being relegated.