Newcastle Advances £59m Joao Pedro Pursuit Amid Isak, Calvert-Lewin Transfer Links

Newcastle United is actively strengthening their squad for the upcoming Champions League season, focusing primarily on securing forward João Pedro from Brighton, with a reported asking price of £59 million. Pedro, seen as a perfect complement to Newcastle's star striker Alexander Isak, scored 10 Premier League goals last season and is praised for his versatility and work rate. Meanwhile, Liverpool is pursuing Isak, who had an outstanding season with 23 league goals and the winning strike in the Carabao Cup final, but Newcastle aims to retain him by offering an improved contract despite wage structure challenges. Newcastle is also targeting Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, whose price has dropped to around €35 million; the club seeks to bolster its defense ahead of European competition, competing with Liverpool and Chelsea for his signature. Additionally, Newcastle is considering signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a backup striker option, with the player open to a pay-as-you-play deal, although a move may not be immediate amid interest from other clubs. Overall, Newcastle is leveraging its Champions League qualification to attract key players while managing contract negotiations to maintain a competitive squad.