Paul Mitchell is yet to make a major signing at Newcastle United and is running out of time.
It has been announced that Paul Mitchell is leaving Newcastle United at the end of June, having only arrived at St James’ Park in July 2024.
During his final few weeks on Tyneside, Mitchell wants to bring a key signing to Newcastle United.
That is something he has been unable to do since his arrival, with PSR limiting the Magpies’ capacity to invest.
They certainly did try to spend in the summer of 2024, with Newcastle United going all out to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
Newcastle offered £70million for Guehi, but Mitchell’s final offer was rebuffed.
Newcastle United chief angered Crystal Palace
One year later, Newcastle want to sign Marc Guehi again.
He is Eddie Howe’s top centre-back target, but TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook is unsure if a deal will be possible during Paul Mitchell’s final few weeks as sporting director.
In a video shared on TalkSPORT’s YouTube channel, Crook addressed how Crystal Palace felt about Mitchell’s pursuit of Guehi last summer.
“We know he spent last summer determined to try and get Marc Guehi,” he said.
“I think by the end Crystal Palace were quite angry and exasperated by the way he went about it. That made it virtually impossible for Newcastle to get the deal done.
“It’ll be interesting once Paul Mitchell leaves whether Newcastle revisit their interest in Guehi. I don’t see that deal being done all the time Mitchell is still in situ.”
Mitchell’s Guehi failure has actually helped Newcastle United
When Newcastle failed to sign Guehi last summer, it felt like a disaster for the Magpies.
Fortunately for Howe, that is not how things have panned out.
Without Guehi, Newcastle won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League.
Now they are preparing for what could be a transformative summer, with Newcastle eyeing four new signings.
Unlike 2024, PSR will not be an issue for Newcastle in 2025. That is thanks to Mitchell selling Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly.
Newcastle’s PSR position is also boosted by their failed pursuit of Guehi. Had he arrived, there would have been more pressure to sell.
In a perverse way, Newcastle not doing any major transfer business in 2024 has put them in a much stronger position to seriously attack the 2025 summer transfer window.
It could even result in Guehi finally arriving at St James’ Park, but Crook thinks a move might have to wait until Mitchell is out the door.
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