How Eddie Howe is feeling about Newcastle signing a defender who isn’t Marc Guehi

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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe wants the Magpies to sign Marc Guehi before the transfer window closes.

The 24-year-old has been Newcastle United‘s top target for a while now, with the club targeting a right-sided centre-back to eventually take Fabian Schar’s place in the squad.

And the need for another centre-back became very evident when Schar got a three-match ban after being sent off against Southampton.

There was hope on Wednesday that the Guehi to Newcastle deal was getting closer, while the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope predicted after the win over Nottingham Forest that Newcastle will sign Guehi.

However, that now seems to be unlikely ahead of the transfer window closing at 11pm on Friday. The current speculation is that a deal is on the rocks, with the Telegraph reporting that Newcastle are now unlikely to sign Guehi from Crystal Palace.

Eddie Howe unconvinced by alternatives as Crystal Palace ask for £75m for Marc Guehi

Newcastle may have to look to an alternative, as Crystal Palace have raised their asking price for Marc Guehi.

That is according to HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey, who has spoke to Geordie Boot Boys about Crystal Palace’s stance on Guehi, as well as how Eddie Howe feels about some of the alternatives that Newcastle United are looking at.

“I was told yesterday that Crystal Palace are now asking for £75million for Marc Guehi,” he said.

“Newcastle are at £70million at the moment – £65million plus £5million in add-ons. Whether they go the extra bit – they will need to decide if he is worth that.

“There are alternatives that they are discussing, which they have been for a while. I’m told that Eddie Howe does not particularly like some of the alternatives that are being discussed. I think he wants a big improvement to that right-sided centre-back position. It is not to say he does not like the alternative options, but he does not see them as a significant improvement. Whereas Guehi would be that.

“It’s a tough situation for the club.”

In terms of alternatives, Newcastle United have been linked with the likes of Edmond Tapsoba, Axel Disasi and Mohamed Simakan.

It was recently reported that Simakan could leave RB Leipzig for £42million, which is a lot less than what Guehi would cost.

Miguel Almiron could leave Newcastle on deadline day

As Newcastle ponder what to do with their centre-back situation, there could also be an outgoing.

Miguel Almiron almost returned to the MLS earlier this month, with Charlotte FC making a move for the Paraguayan.

That deal collapsed, but now the 30-year-old is attracting interest from Fulham.

However, Bailey has told Geordie Boot Boys that Almiron will only be allowed to leave if there is a replacement lined up.

“I’m also told that [the possible Guehi deal] might be the whole budget in one go. They would not have money to bring in a right winger, which is why Miguel Almiron could leave.

“There is interest in Almiron from Fulham and others. I think a move is possible, but I think that would depend on if they had someone else lined up. They won’t get rid of him and not have a replacement to come in.”