Report: Two mystery transfers Newcastle United are working on after Joao Pedro disaster

Newcastle United’s pursuit of summer reinforcements has taken a dramatic twist following their failure to secure the signature of Joao Pedro.

The Brazilian, long admired by Eddie Howe and marked as a priority target, has instead opted to join Chelsea, leaving Newcastle to regroup and reassess their options in the transfer market.

While some supporters may remain calm about the situation, the reality is that missing out on Pedro represents a setback. He was a player who fit the vision of the club—young, technically gifted, versatile, and with the potential to grow into a leading figure within the squad.

The Magpies are now turning their attention elsewhere, quietly and strategically, in a bid to secure new arrivals who can help elevate the club ahead of a highly anticipated 2025/26 campaign.

There’s a clear understanding within the club that competition across the Premier League will only grow fiercer, and Newcastle must act decisively if they are to avoid another year of near misses.

Although transfer breakthroughs feel distant to the fans watching from the outside, those inside the club continue to work relentlessly behind the scenes.

According to reports from the i Paper, Newcastle are currently progressing with two undisclosed signings, both under wraps and kept tightly sealed from public knowledge.

These deals reportedly involve a new centre-back and a forward—players intended to act as alternatives to Marc Guehi and Joao Pedro, respectively. The identities of these targets have yet to surface in the media, something that appears to be deliberate and, from the club’s perspective, preferable.

This level of confidentiality aligns with a pattern that has become more familiar since the Saudi-backed consortium took control at St James’ Park.

In recent transfer windows, Newcastle have shown a growing preference for stealth. The club’s hierarchy has learned from past experiences where protracted negotiations and leaks to the media have derailed promising moves or turned them into public sagas.

Last summer, Newcastle made an aggressive push to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, only for complications and publicity to unravel the deal. The lesson has been internalized: the quieter the process, the greater the chance of success.

One of the clearest examples of this new approach came during the summer of 2022, when Newcastle completed the shock acquisition of Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad.

At the beginning of that window, Isak had been considered too expensive. The club instead began courting Joao Pedro as a more attainable alternative.

But as soon as it became clear that a financially viable deal for Isak could materialize, the Magpies pivoted quickly and struck an agreement with Real Sociedad.

That £63 million deal made Isak the club’s record signing and was finalized in near silence. When the story finally broke to the press, it was already virtually complete.

A year later, Newcastle followed a similar script when they signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan. Public speculation heavily linked the club with Nicolo Barella of Inter Milan, but that proved to be nothing more than a smokescreen.

Behind the scenes, Tonali had already emerged as the real target. The club managed to pull off one of the most surprising deals of the summer without much media interference, proving that stealth in the market can lead to swift success.

Even the 2024 acquisition of young striker Will Osula flew under the radar. Labeled a “project player,” Osula was signed as one of the final and most personal moves of former sporting director Paul Mitchell before his departure.

Despite a relatively low profile, the transfer demonstrated the club’s willingness to invest in long-term prospects while building a foundation for future success.

Now, Newcastle’s recruitment duties fall to Andy Howe and Steve Nickson. Together, they are navigating a crucial window for the club’s ongoing project.

With no official confirmation of who the next arrivals might be, fans are left to speculate and wait, though recent history suggests that when Newcastle go quiet, they’re often on the brink of something significant.

The club understands that maintaining a competitive edge in the transfer market requires more than ambition—it demands precision, strategy, and sometimes secrecy.

As the summer unfolds, the pattern remains consistent: when Newcastle stay silent, it usually means a surprise is imminent. Whether these mystery players prove to be as impactful as Isak or Tonali remains to be seen, but supporters can rest assured that efforts to improve the squad have not stopped because of one setback.

On the contrary, missing out on Joao Pedro may have simply accelerated a new phase of opportunity, one that could soon deliver two key additions that no one saw coming.