NEWCASTLE UNITED are preparing a second bid for Joao Pedro, despite Watford manager Rob Edwards’ insistence that he does not want to lose the Brazilian forward.

Watford officials have rejected Newcastle’s initial offer for Pedro, which involved an up-front payment of around £20m and a further £3m in potential add-ons.

The Magpies remain determined to land the 20-year-old, and are poised to table an improved offer of £25m, with the same add-ons included that featured in the original bid.

That would take the total value of Newcastle’s offer to around £28m, which almost matches Watford’s £30m valuation of Pedro.

The Brazil-born forward joined the Hornets from Fluminense in January 2020 and scored nine goals as the club won promotion from the Championship in the 2020-21 season.

He registered three goals and one assist as Watford were relegated from the Premier League last season, but spent most of his time playing as a wide attacker rather than a central forward.

He scored on the opening day of the current campaign, and helped lead the line last night as Watford claimed a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.

With Emmanuel Dennis having left to join Nottingham Forest, and Ismaila Sarr the subject of ongoing interest from both Manchester United and Crystal Palace, Pedro has evolved into a key member of Watford’s first-team squad.

As a result, Edwards is extremely reluctant to lose him, with the Watford boss claiming the youngster would benefit from playing a full season in the Championship rather than moving to Newcastle, where he would be competing with Callum Wilson and Chris Wood for a place in Eddie Howe’s side.

“Joao Pedro is already a very good player,” said Edwards. “I think he’s going to be an excellent footballer.

“I do believe this is the right place for him at the moment. I think he would really benefit from playing a full season with us and obviously helping the football club to where we want to be.

“I think he can play a huge part in that. I think he’s fully committed to that. He’s so mature for a young age, and he understands what he needs to do as well.

“Joao is fully committed on the here and now, and obviously he can’t control anything that happens externally, so he’s dealing with everything very, very well.”