Having secured Champions League football with a fifth-place finish in the 2024/25 Premier League, Newcastle have immediately set their sights on building a squad ready to compete in Europe’s top competition.
And with a big transfer budget helped by January outgoings and multiple windows of inactivity, Eddie Howe has already talked up the need to strike early deals as we look to bring in at least four major signings.
With Callum Wilson looking likely to leave after Sunday’s tears and wave goodbye, another striker is needed and it seems two are high on Howe’s wishlist as we look to add firepower alongside Alexander Isak in attack.
It’s one of the club’s worst-kept secrets, but it looks like the club are serious about bringing Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap to St James’ Park this summer.
According to Mark Douglas at the iPaper, we’ve already made a ‘sales pitch’ to the former Manchester City striker, as part of a ‘quality not quantity’ approach desired by Howe.
Douglas adds that the club are hopeful of landing an early June signing alongside Malaga’s Antonio Cordero, also claiming that a ‘£250m war chest’ could be available, with PSR ‘headroom’ of £100m and Champions League qualification also set to boost finances.
Whether this hope of an early arrival is concerning Delap or another player altogether, Howe looks to evolve our squad to cope with the rigours of competing in the league, Europe and in two cup competitions next season.
Similar to Delap, another versatile Premier League goalscorer being eyed up by the Magpies is none other than Brighton’s Joao Pedro.
Mark Douglas reports that Newcastle hold ‘serious interest’ in the Brazilian, who the club almost signed in 2022 during his time at Watford.
The 23-year-old recorded 10 goals in 30 appearances last season, and was often rotated with Danny Welbeck by Fabian Hürzeler.
Whilst Delap would only cost £30m due to his relegation release clause, you would expect Pedro to command a significantly larger fee, with the Seagulls having bought him for a then-club record fee of £30m back in 2023.
However, the former Watford star was dropped from the matchday squad against Spurs due to a disciplinary issue over a training ground incident: something which has naturally stirred speculation over Pedro’s future at the club.
The South American talent is also versatile, being able to operate up top, out wide and in a deeper role, much like previously linked Matheus Cunha, now Man Utd-bound.
Boasting excellent European football experience during Brighton’s Europa League run under Roberto De Zerbi, and being a dependable alternative to Alexander Isak across all competitions, this would be a smart and sensible signing if we could pull it off.