Transfer blow for Sheffield United's promotion rivals as Newcastle "agree fee" for £30m-rated star

Brazilian star João Pedro looks set to leave Vicarage Road after Watford’s relegation from the Premier League last season, with Emmanuel Dennis already having departed to join big-spending Nottingham Forest.

A move for Watford’s Ismaila Sarr to join Aston Villa collapsed earlier this week, and Pedro appears close to joining Newcastle United – although Magpies boss Eddie Howe isn’t sure a deal is advanced as is being reported in some quarters.

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“I think that’s not entirely accurate, but I’m not dealing with these things minute to minute, day to day,” said the Newcastle boss when asked if a deal had been struck with Watford.

“I’m sort of in the background hearing what’s happening, but I don’t think that’s correct.”

Pedro scored the winner in the opening game of the season against the Blades, sweeping home past Wes Foderingham after a lightning-quick counter-attack caught out the Blades.

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Pedro, Sarr and Dennis all played in that game, and at one stage it appeared that all three would have moved on to pastures new come the end of the transfer window – which slams shut next Thursday evening at 11pm.

United, of course, are hopeful of fending off the vultures circling around their own star man Sander Berge, who is attracting interest both domestically and abroad but will be key to their hopes of getting back into the Premier League.

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