As the summer transfer window begins to heat up, Newcastle United’s grand £60 million push for Brighton star Joao Pedro is suddenly hanging by a thread—and the threat is coming from a familiar and financially fearsome foe. Chelsea, fresh off a lucrative Club World Cup run, are reportedly circling, and there’s growing panic in the Toon camp that another major signing could slip through their fingers.
At the start of the window, the atmosphere around St. James’ Park was buzzing with optimism. Newcastle looked to pounce early for young guns like Liam Delap and Bryan Mbeumo. But those dreams quickly evaporated. Delap opted for Chelsea in a £30m deal, adding to their ever-expanding forward line, while Mbeumo is tipped to end up at either Manchester United or Spurs. Newcastle were outbid and outpaced.
That frustration is now morphing into full-blown anxiety as TalkSPORT reports that Newcastle officials fear Chelsea are ready to hijack their latest top target—Joao Pedro. The £60 million-rated Brazilian had emerged as Eddie Howe’s marquee summer acquisition, with negotiations confirmed to be underway earlier this week. But insiders suggest that Pedro, despite ongoing talks with the Magpies, could now be tempted by the bright lights of Stamford Bridge.
“Chelsea have this pull,” one Newcastle source reportedly said. “We’ve made our move, but if they come in hard, he might just go.”
And there’s reason to worry. The Blues’ history of luring stars from Brighton—think Moisés Caicedo and Marc Cucurella—makes them more than capable of raiding the Seagulls again. And with Pedro’s Brighton teammate Igor Julio previously suggesting that “London is where he wants to be”, Newcastle are left treading on dangerously thin ice.
However, not all hope is lost. The Telegraph has revealed that Newcastle and Brighton remain relatively aligned on the valuation, meaning a deal is within touching distance. The Magpies also have a few unique advantages they hope will tip the scales.
Joao Pedro, sources say, is “very intrigued” by the prospect of linking up with Newcastle’s Swedish goal machine Alexander Isak, and sees the potential for an explosive partnership up front. Additionally, the Brazilian bond with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, as well as the persistent interest shown by Newcastle since his Watford days, could be key in keeping him loyal to the North East.
“He knows we’ve believed in him for years,” said one insider close to the club. “This isn’t a last-minute decision. We’ve watched him, waited for the right time, and we’re finally in the room with Brighton. But now the vultures are circling.”
Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, have no shortage of strikers—Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, and even links to Hugo Ekitike—but that doesn’t seem to be stopping them. Their war chest is deep, and if they make space with a few sales, Joao Pedro could be the next blue-chip addition in a star-studded Stamford Bridge rebuild.
Yet, Pedro has left the door open. He hasn’t ruled out Tyneside. In fact, there’s cautious optimism that Newcastle remains his preferred footballing destination, if not his lifestyle one.
Still, with weeks left in the window and Newcastle trying to avoid another drawn-out saga, the club knows this tug-of-war could go down to the wire. If Chelsea make their move, the entire dynamic could flip in an instant.
One thing is clear: the battle for Joao Pedro is far from over—and with Chelsea lurking, Newcastle may be just one phone call away from losing the star they’ve chased since 2022.
