Newcastle United have reportedly set their sights on Espanyol full-back Adria Pedrosa, who is in the final year of his contract with the Catalan club.
According to a report from Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Adria Pedrosa of Espanyol is on the radar of Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion. The 24-year-old Spanish full-back has entered the final year of his contract with Espanyol.
In recent weeks, Newcastle United have turned their attention to strengthening their options in attacking areas but have only faced frustrations. That is not to say the Magpies have not done smart business over the past couple of windows, particularly when it comes to reinforcing at the back.
Newcastle United signed Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn in January and have backed that up with the additions of Matt Targett and Sven Botman this summer, in what has been a complete makeover of the backline. But despite converting Targett’s loan deal into a permanent transfer after he showed excellent form last season, it appears that the Magpies may still be hunting for another left-back, going by their surprise links to Adria Pedrosa.
The 24-year-old is an Espanyol graduate who made his debut at the RCDE Stadium in November 2018 before establishing himself as a mainstay in the first team in the following seasons. The Spanish full-back is coming off an excellent 2021/22 season, where he made 33 appearances across all competitions.
However, there are doubts about Pedrosa’s Espanyol future. The left-back’s contract expires at the end of the 2022/23 season. The Catalan outfit are still hopeful they can get him to pen fresh terms and are expected to table an improved contract in the coming month despite boasting a rocky relationship with his agents.
But the Premier League interest may complicate things, and they could be forced to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for free next summer amid the eagerness from Newcastle United .
Mundo Deportivo reports that Brighton, who have given the green light for Marc Cucurella to join Chelsea, are viewing Pedrosa as an ideal replacement for his compatriot. Meanwhile, Newcastle United have also been mentioned as a potential destination.
Pedrosa could be a shrewd acquisition for the Magpies as a more attacking alternative to Targett and could provide healthy competition for places in the full-back department. The Spaniard is relatively young at only 24 years old and he has made a decent impression for Espanyol, courting interest from Barcelona earlier this summer.
Moreover, with just a year left on his current deal, there is a potential that he could be available for as little as €8 million this summer. However, after extending experienced left-back Paul Dummett’s deal for another year ahead of the new season, and Jamal Lewis also returning to the fray from a long-term injury, Newcastle seem unlikely to pursue another player in the same position.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle’s reported interest in Pedrosa holds any truth and whether they put a firm offer in for the 24-year-old Spanish full-back in the coming weeks.
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