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Ciaran Kelly

Joao Pedro's telling reaction to Newcastle transfer bid hints at character test he's passed

Joao Pedro has dealt with Newcastle United's interest 'very well' and 'you would not know anything was going on'.

That is according to Watford boss Rob Edwards who, unsurprisingly, feels that Vicarage Road is the 'right place' for Pedro after the Hornets rejected Newcastle's opening offer for the Brazilian. A senior Watford source told ChronicleLive that 'we have made our position very clear' - the club are adamant Pedro is not for sale - and the Championship side are under no pressure to let the forward go as he still has five years left on his contract.

However, Newcastle are set to make another offer to test that stance after having a bid in the region of £20m turned down and the Magpies already know that Pedro would be open to the move. ChronicleLive previously revealed that Pedro is interested in a return to the Premier League with Newcastle, but the 20-year-old is not the type of character who would push to leave.

READ MORE: Newcastle's reassuring 'never stop' transfer and loan summer plan

Indeed, it was not a surprise that Pedro started Watford's 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on Tuesday night when others may have thrown their toys out of the pram. That professionalism will certainly appeal to Eddie Howe, who does not want characters who will disrupt his dressing room.

“With him, you wouldn’t know anything was going on at all," Edwards told reporters. "He’s fully focused on his job and fully focused on playing for this football club.

"I think you could see that - probably one or two little bits I’d expect him to be slightly better in at the top end of the pitch - but I thought his commitment and some of the stuff he did was first class.

“The amazing thing about Joao is he’s so intelligent, I can play him in different areas of the pitch and he still finds a way to influence the game even when we went 4-4-2 at the end to really try and push, put him out on the right and he still finds the right spaces and trying to create.

“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.”

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