Newcastle United are facing defeat in their attempts to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace, who are holding firm in their asking price of about £70m for the England centre-back.
Palace have remained resolute in their valuation of Guéhi, who starred for England at Euro 2024, and it is understood that Newcastle are increasingly pessimistic about their chances of landing Eddie Howe’s top defensive target before the transfer window shuts on Friday night. Talks between the clubs are not over but there is no sign of a compromise being reached on a fee for the former Chelsea centre-back.
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Steve Parish, Palace’s chairman, set out his stall this month by saying Newcastle would need to pay “superstar money” to sign Guéhi. Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian majority owners are believed to be unwilling to go above £65m. It remains to be seen if the Tyneside club, who have been linked with RB Leipzig’s Mohamed Simakan and Chelsea’s Axel Disasi, will switch focus to alternative targets.
The risk for Palace is that they are missing out on their last opportunity to cash in on Guéhi, who joined from Chelsea three years ago. The 24-year-old has two years on his contract and does not intend to sign an extension. Palace will not be in as strong a negotiating position next summer and there is a danger that they end up losing Guéhi on a free.
Yet Palace have sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich this summer and are keen not to lose another key player. They look likely to hold on to the England midfielder Eberechi Ezeand have generated funds by selling the Denmark defender Joachim Andersen to Fulham for about £30m. Palace are poised to replace Andersen by signing Maxence Lacroix from Wolsburg.
Newcastle have had a quiet summer and their lack of activity will raise doubts over their ability to challenge for European qualification. Howe is a contender to become the England manager after the departure of Gareth Southgate. Lee Carsley has been placed in interim charge.
