Newcastle United may be able to make a big deal if Brighton & Hove Albion closes in on a transfer.
Babis Kostoulas, an 18-year-old striker for Olympiacos, is expected to cost Brighton approximately £30 million.
According to The Athletic, Kostoulas will have a physical at Brighton before agreeing to a five-year contract with the Premier League team.
It comes as Newcastle is being strongly linked to a deal for Joao Pedro, a forward for the Seagulls.
Brighton agree £30m striker deal
Kostoulas is one of the most promising young players in Greek football and is expected to join Brighton. While some have speculated that the move would allow Joao Pedro to depart, it is more likely to be an option to Evan Ferguson.
Since his hat-trick against Newcastle two years ago, Ferguson has slipped in Brighton’s hierarchy. The 20-year-old failed to score in eight games during his loan stint at West Ham United in the second half of the previous campaign. Although it appears Brighton has won the battle to recruit him, Kostoulas scored seven goals in 35 games for Olympiacos as they achieved a domestic double. Kostoulas has drawn interest from clubs throughout Europe.
A “huge offer” for Babis Kostoulas from Newcastle United?
The team that was linked to Kostoulas was none other than Newcastle. According to Giorgos Tsanakas of Sport FM in Greece, Newcastle was getting ready to make Kostoulas a “huge offer.” Callum Wilson’s contract is set to expire at the end of this month, thus the Magpies are searching for a striker this summer. However, any new player would almost probably trail leading scorer Alexander Isak, so they would need to have some versatility to be able to play regularly in the first team.
Brighton is expected to recruit Kostoulas regardless of whether Newcastle’s interest in the teenager was sincere. Joao Pedro is also a target for Newcastle.
Newcastle United is interested in Brighton’s Joao Pedro.
After Joao Pedro was suspended and missed the final five games of the season, Brighton was already considering trading the Brazilian this summer. The 23-year-old, who has scored 30 goals in 70 games since joining from Watford in 2023 for £30 million, is reportedly pursuing £60 million from the South Coast club. Newcastle may have trouble closing a deal because Brighton is in a strong PSR position and is not under any rush to sell.
Joao Pedro has long been a target for the Magpies, who had previously arranged a £30 million agreement for the attacker to come from Watford in 2022. After making a stunning U-turn, Newcastle decided to back out of the agreement and purchase Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for a club record £63 million. Isak has been crucial to Newcastle since joining the team, scoring 62 goals in 109 games, so in the end, the choice was in everyone’s best interests. Joao Pedro, meantime, has a solid scoring record and eventually won a move to Brighton in the Premier League.
After a brief 10-day FIFA Club World Cup signing period, the summer transfer window is now closed. On Monday, June 16, the window will open completely, and on Monday, September 1, it will close at 7 p.m.
READ MORE: sportchannel.co.uk
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