NEWCASTLE UNITED continue to encounter difficulties as they attempt to sign a new striker, with Watford digging their heels in over Joao Pedro.

The Hornets turned down the Magpies’ initial offer for the Brazilian, which is understood to have featured an up-front fee of around £20m and up to £3m in potential add-ons.

Watford officials feel that undervalues the 20-year-old, who can play out wide or as a central striker, and there is a strong reluctance to allow Pedro to leave whatever the offer given that the hierarchy at Vicarage Road accept they could struggle to hold on to Ismaila Sarr this summer.

Manchester United, West Ham and Leeds have all been strongly linked with a potential move for Sarr, who looks likely to move on before the transfer window closes at the start of the next month.

With Emmanuel Dennis having left to join Nottingham Forest, Watford do not want to lose all three of their standout forwards as they look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking following last season’s relegation.

Newcastle’s recruitment team moved for Pedro after suffering a series of setbacks in their pursuit of a new striker this summer.

A deal for Hugo Ekitike collapsed when the youngster opted to join Paris St Germain, and Newcastle also missed out on Benjamin Sesko when the forward agreed a deal that will see him join RB Leipzig from Salzburg next summer.

The Magpies retain an interest in Armando Broja, but Chelsea remain reluctant to allow the Albania international to leave on loan while they continue to look for a new forward of their own.

Newcastle are weighing up their next move for Pedro, amid suggestions that Watford will not be willing to negotiate unless the Magpies increase their offer to at least £30m.

That represents a huge hike on their initial bid, and Newcastle’s new ownership group have displayed an unwillingness to become embroiled in a bidding war for other targets already this summer.

Ideally, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe would still like to sign a forward and a wide attacker before the end of the window, and the Magpies have held discussions with Chelsea over a loan move for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is expected to give the green light for Hudson-Odoi to leave on a temporary basis, with the England international having been an unused substitute in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.