Newcastle United are running out of time to complete a deal for Marc Guehi, and their need to sign the Crystal Palace defender only intensified over the weekend.
The Magpies may have started the new Premier League season with a win, but they did it the hard way. Joelinton scored Newcastle United‘s only goal, as Eddie Howe’s 10 men triumphed over newly promoted Southampton.
Newcastle were a man down after a moment of madness in the first half, with Fabian Schar given a very soft red card after a coming together with Ben Brereton Diaz.
In the absence of Schar, Newcastle had to turn to Emil Krafth to play centre-back. Krafth did incredibly well against Southampton, but his presence highlighted the Magpies’ need for another central defender to arrive before the transfer window closes on August 30th.
However, it remains to be seen if Marc Guehi will be the centre-back that arrives.
Newcastle have fourth Marc Guehi bid rejected
Newcastle have had four bids rejected for Guehi now, with sporting director Paul Mitchell looking at possible alternatives.
Crystal Palace continue to hold out for a fee north of £65million, with Newcastle astonished to see their latest Guehi offer be rejected.
With less than two weeks to go before the transfer window closes, Toon officials must decide what their next move is.
How Newcastle United feel internally about the Marc Guehi situation
The pressure is building, but there is still belief that a deal can be done to bring Guehi to St James’ Park.
That is according to the Athletic, who report that some members of the Newcastle hierarchy believe they can still sign Guehi from Crystal Palace.
They add that Newcastle think Crystal Palace’s asking price is ‘excessive’, with the Eagles wanting at least £65million for the 24-year-old. They may even want more than £70million, which would be a crazy fee.
The Athletic state that Newcastle understand that they must end this saga in the next few days. That means either agreeing a deal to sign Guehi or moving on to other targets.
Crystal Palace could be about to offer Newcastle some Guehi encouragement
During these negotiations, Crystal Palace appear to have been bullish about keeping Guehi at Selhurst Park.
Chairman Steve Parish has said it will take ‘superstar money’ to sign Guehi, as the transfer talks continue to be played out through the media.
Palace have had the power, but they could be about to offer Newcastle encouragement to strike a deal.
They have been linked with signing Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg, who is a centre-back. A deal for him would perhaps open the door for someone like Guehi to leave.
And, according to Fabrizio Romano, talks over Palace signing Lacroix are advancing.
He wrote on X on Sunday: “Crystal Palace keep advancing in talks with Maxence Lacroix as top priority if one centre back leaves before the end of the window. Marc Guehi (Newcastle) or Joachim Andersen (Fulham), one could leave and Glasner considers Lacroix as ideal choice as replacement.”
Palace will not want the Guehi saga to drag on into the final week of the transfer window, while Wolfsburg will feel the same about Lacroix. That could give Newcastle a boost, and it may result in Mitchell making the transfer breakthrough he has been craving.
Either way, the Guehi situation is going to reach a climax in the coming days, for better or for worse.
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