“Newcastle’s £60M Striker Hunt EXPLODES as Rival Club Scrambles with SHOCK £34M Replacement Bid!”

Eddie Howe was keen to bring in Liam Delap before Chelsea swooped in and secured his signature, dealing a blow to Newcastle United.

Delap’s £30 million release clause had made him an appealing option for the Magpies.

At the same time, Newcastle were also eyeing Joao Pedro from Brighton, with The Telegraph now reporting that Howe is ramping up efforts to bring the Brazilian striker to St. James’ Park as he looks to bolster the squad early in the window.

In a related development, Brighton’s recent move in the transfer market could indicate they are preparing for Pedro’s potential departure.

According to The Athletic, the Seagulls have tabled a £34 million bid for Olympiacos wonderkid Charalampos Kostoulas, an 18-year-old forward attracting significant attention.

Negotiations between Brighton and Olympiacos are ongoing, and the substantial bid suggests Brighton may be planning for life without Pedro.

Manager Fabian Hurzeler usually sets up with a single central striker, so such a major financial outlay for Kostoulas hints that he is being lined up as a direct replacement, not merely a squad option.

Brighton reportedly want to double their investment in Pedro, having signed him for £30 million from Watford in June 2023.

The Telegraph claim the club would expect at least £60 million to consider selling the forward.

That figure would be twice what Howe initially intended to pay for Delap, but the admiration for Pedro on Tyneside appears strong.

Newcastle had tried to sign Pedro back in the summer of 2022, during Howe’s first transfer window in charge, but Watford rejected multiple bids at the time.

Pedro has gone on to score 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton, solidifying his reputation and maintaining Howe’s interest.

For those speculating that Newcastle’s pursuit of Pedro could be related to potential interest from Liverpool in Alexander Isak, iNews has reported otherwise.

The outlet states Howe intends to adopt a two-striker system next season, suggesting the aim is to partner Isak rather than replace him.

As things stand, all signs point to Pedro being a top target for Newcastle, with Brighton’s transfer activity potentially clearing the path.