Newcastle United told Joao Pedro tipping point as talks intensify and new coach decision made
Newcastle are eager to get a deal pulled off for Joao Pedro in time for pre-season training getting under way
Newcastle United have been offered a hint of what it may take to complete the signing of Joao Pedro this summer.
Those close to the deal have made it clear that there is a definite tipping point for Pedro and unlike the Marc Guéhi talks with Crystal Palace, there is a will to sell if the price is right.
As Chronicle Live reported on Friday morning, talks with Brighton & Hove Albion have hit a slight stumbling block after a price of £50m was put to the Seagulls. Albion supremo Tony Bloom is believed to be holding out for another bid with Newcastle considering their next move carefully.
Brighton have factored in a 20% sell on fee which will go to Watford once any deal is given the green light. We understand that the South Coast club may settle for £60m plus add ons to take the deal to £65m in total.
Pedro remains on holiday but would love to see the talks progress in time for his return to the UK. The 23-year-old wanted to play under Eddie Howe three years ago when a move from Watford to Newcastle collapsed at the negotiation stage.
But even after Pedro headed to the Amex Stadium, Newcastle have kept tabs on the former Fluminense man and see him as one of their top targets this summer.
It's a deal Howe would like done before pre-season kicks off but it might be touch and go. And the negotiations are essentially in the hands of a Newcastle board that is about to reshuffle very soon with sporting director Paul Mitchell and CEO Darren Eales set to leave.
Newcastle United assess options for a new reserve team boss
The club have had a flood of applicants to replace Diarmuid O'Carroll as Under-21 boss. The Northern Ireland coach headed to Sparta Prague for an opportunity to join the Czechia club's backroom team that he could not turn down.
But there has been no shortage of interest in the vacant position both internally and externally. Newcastle already have Chris Moore and James Marwood doing a good job at Under-18 level but may opt for more experience for the second string.
Former Academy head of coaching Ben Dawson could be a candidate for a role back at St James' Park and was spotted at recent home games after his departure with Leicester City last season where he had been caretaker boss at one stage. Another leading candidate is understood to be O'Carroll's number 2 Robbie Stockdale.
The ex-Middlesbrough player and Sunderland coach and caretaker boss is valued highly within the four walls and would be an ideal appointment given his level of experience.
Extra tickets made available for Celtic clash
The Magpies will kick off pre-season at Parkhead against the Scottish Premiership champions. Having originally been handed 7,200, it is believed an extra 700 tickets were made available to United fans this week.
The tickets are now on sale to season ticket holders. Speaking about facing Celtic, Eddie Howe had said: "Travelling to Glasgow, to face Celtic, is a great opportunity to test ourselves as we gear up for Premier League and European football next season," said Eddie Howe.
"We'll face a top team at an historic ground, with a big away crowd there to support us."
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