Moussa Sissoko has backed former team-mate Joao Pedro to have a 'good career' if the 'quality' Newcastle United target keeps working hard and believing in himself.
Newcastle tried to sign Pedro from Watford last summer and, at one point, ChronicleLive was told that discussions were 'moving well' but, crucially, the deal was 'not closed'. Callum Wilson's hamstring injury ultimately changed the profile of attacker the club targeted and Newcastle smashed their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in the final week of the window.
Although Newcastle have since brought in Anthony Gordon, too, it is worth noting that Pedro is a forward who is well-liked by both the Magpies' recruitment team and coaching staff alike as the club continue to monitor a small pool of players. Newcastle also have form for revisiting deals after returning to the table for Gordon, Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike in the last 12 months alone.
READ MORE: Moussa Sissoko apologises as he opens up on Newcastle exit deadline that left him 'shaking'
You can be sure Newcastle have kept an eye on Pedro, who is Watford's top scorer this season in the Championship with nine goals despite a recent ankle injury, and the black-and-whites already know that it is the 21-year-old's dream to return to the Premier League. Watford are currently four points off the play-off places with nine games to go after appointing another new manager, Chris Wilder, last week in the hope of making a late promotion push.
Pedro may still have more than five years to run on his contract, but it is hard to see the Brazilian being content with a second successive season in the second-tier if the Hornets do not go up. Indeed, current team-mate Dan Gosling previously told ChronicleLive that 'Joao wants to go to the very top and play in the Champions League'. Just as Gosling spoke highly of a 'top player', who he was wary of 'bigging up too much to the Chronicle', Sissoko was similarly effusive about his former Watford team-mate.
"Honestly, I was only with him for one year, but he was the best player at Watford, the player with the most quality," the ex-Newcastle midfielder told ChronicleLive."If he keeps working hard, still believes in himself and tries to improve every day, he can have a good career."
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