Newcastle United 'initiate talks' over £27m Brighton man according to report - It makes no sense as things stand

A new report has suggested that Newcastle United are set to open talks with Brighton and Hove Albion star over potential summer move, but there's a big problem.

Newcastle are in the hunt for a new centre-back, and while Marc Guehi remains the top target, other options are being looked at, so it's no surprise to see different names popping up regularly.

Journalist Charlie Haffenden has shared an exclusive on 3 Added Minutes that may have an element of truth to it, but as things stand, it makes absolutely no sense to us.

Haffenden has claimed that Newcastle have initiated talks with Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke's representatives. This is not the first time van Hecke has been linked to Newcastle, so it is believable, but it does raise a massive question over the pursuit of João Pedro.

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Newcastle want Jan Paul van Hecke, but that leaves questions over João Pedro

While the report does suggest that Brighton would be reluctant to sell Jan Paul van Hecke, and they also state that they'd expect a deal to be well in excess of the £27 million valuation placed on him by Transfermarkt, Haffenden is confident that talks have begun between Newcastle and the player's people.

Jan Paul van Hecke would be an excellent signing for Eddie Howe, we've no doubt about that, but the problem we have is what it would mean for Newcastle's pursuit of João Pedro.

Newcastle have been strongly linked with a move for the Brighton forward, who looks ready to leave Brighton after a bust-up with ... Jan Paul van Hecke.

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Which Brighton star would you prefer at Newcastle?

• Jan Paul van Hecke

  25%
• Joao Pedro

  34%
• Take a risk on both

  18%
• Neither

  23%

124 votes · Final Results

We can't see both Brighton players joining the same club after infamous spat

Surely, we only bring one of the two to the club to avoid any disharmony in the dressing room. The fact that João Pedro was dropped from the Brighton side for the final two games after the bust-up does suggest he was the aggressor, so we have to question whether he's the right fit for Newcastle.

Joao Pedro is no stranger to disciplinary issues, serving a three-match ban for an elbow before being dropped by Fabian Hurzeler for the spat with van Hecke.

We can't see a world in which we sign both players, so which, if any, is the true summer transfer target for Newcastle? We'll have to wait and see.