Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that there is an ‘85% chance’ Newcastle United and Leeds United target, Joao Pedro, stays at Watford this summer, as he told Sky Sports News.
The Sky reporter added that Newcastle and Watford initially hit a brick wall in talks for a Pedro deal because the Championship side ‘weren’t satisfied’ at how achievable the ‘£5m add-ons’ for a possible £30m deal.
Now, the Magpies have since signed Alexander Isak, but despite that, the Magpies are still trying to sign Pedro, with Leeds also in the hunt.
On Tuesday night, the Hornets recorded a late 2-1 win over Middlesbrough, with Pedro supplying a brilliant assist for Ismaila Sarr’s equalising goal.
If Watford manage to keep a player of Pedro’s ilk, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t earn promotion back to the Premier League, that’s how important those players are.
And judging by Sky reporter and transfer expert Sheth, with hours left before the deadline transfer window slams shut, that might prove to be the case.
“He started Watford’s 100-year Vicarage Road game on Tuesday night and one source has told me now that it’s an 85% chance he is going to stay,” said Sheth.
“I don’t know whether that’s being generous or whether he will 100% stay because you never say never with Joao Pedro, especially because Newcastle went in for him before they signed Alexander Isak.
“Once that happened it kind of went dormant between Newcastle and Watford. There was a £30 million offer on the table from Newcastle. £25 million in initial payment and £5 million in add-ons.
“But Watford weren’t satisfied with how achievable those add-ons were, so discussions were continuing until the Isak deal emerged and got done. It will be interesting to see whether Newcastle would be willing to go back to the table with only a few hours to go.
“If you are still talking about a £30 million figure, then there is every chance it still could happen.”
LEEDS AND NEWCASTLE TO BE BUSY ON TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY?
Overall, both Leeds and Newcastle have had a healthy summer transfer window, with the Magpies perhaps the happiest out of the two.
The main reason being is that they didn’t lose key players from their squad, with Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips heading for the Elland Road exit doors.
But despite those big losses for Jesse Marsch, the club have reacted well in regards to incomings, and they are now benefiting from that during the early parts of the new Premier League season.
Nonetheless, it wouldn’t be a surprise if both Newcastle and Leeds are still busy during these last few hours of the 2022 summer transfer window.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
