NUFC plotting swoop for "hungry" £34m gem with a "bright future", Howe would love him - opinion

Newcastle United have learned how much they will need to pay for Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window as they plot a swoop for the attacker. 

According to UOL, Watford are predicting that they will be able to sell him for a fee as high as €4om (£34m) in the coming months.

The report claims that he is seen as one of the club’s biggest assets and they may now cash in on him, amidst interest from the Magpies, Benfica and West Ham.

The Magpies’ head coach would love him at St. James’ Park as he is a promising young player who he can work with over the course of a number of years.

He is not an established star who will require an instant spot in the starting XI and this means that Newcastle can bring him in as a squad option initially. Howe can then help him on the training pitch with an eye on developing him into a starting-quality player for the club in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old does, however, have top-flight experience under his belt. He played 28 times – starting 15 games – in the division for Watford as they were relegated in the season just gone, as well as three substitute outings during their 2019/20 relegation.

In that time, he managed three goals and one assist whilst playing out wide on the left and through the middle. The dynamo also enjoyed a fine season in the Championship between the two campaigns as he scored nine goals and provided two assists as his side won promotion at the first time of asking.

Former Watford man Jobi McAnuff previously claimed that the gem has a “bright future” ahead of him and current Hornets midfielder Tom Cleverley once hailed the Brazilian, saying: “He’s hungry, he’s another one who works hard. He’s put about 7kg of muscle on since he arrived in the country, he knows