Newcastle United are not going to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day, much to the disappointment of Paul Merson.
The Magpies are no longer trying to land the 24-year-old, with Newcastle pulling out of a deal to sign Marc Guehi on Thursday.
It has been reported that Guehi is disappointed that his Newcastle move has collapsed, and that is a feeling shared by plenty of Toon fans – mainly because it means the club probably will not make a major signing this summer.
But there is still hope, with Newcastle discussing one possible deal ahead of the transfer window closing at 11pm.
Paul Merson delivers Marc Guehi verdict as Newcastle miss out
It remains to be seen who Newcastle are looking at, but it it is now certain that Guehi will not be swapping Selhurst Park for St James’ Park.
Ahead of Crystal Palace’s game against Chelsea, Oliver Glasner has confirmed that his captain is staying put.
Newcastle are missing out on their top target, and that is not good news for the Magpies.
That is the view of Paul Merson, who has spoke about Newcastle’s Guehi deal collapsing on Sky Sports News.
“I think if it was £65million up-front, I think you are dropping him off,” he said.
“Before the Euros he was probably a £30million player. I don’t think the money is all in one hit.
“I don’t think it’s good for Newcastle. If I’m Eddie Howe I’m thinking – because the week before was go that extra £5million and we want to hang around – if Newcastle can’t afford to go to that you start worrying about Newcastle a bit with all the money they are supposed to have.
“But fair play to Palace, they have dug their heels in as a smaller club, no disrespect, and they have gone bang. I’m a big fan of Guehi, he keeps you in the Premier League, so that’s another £100million or £150million to them.
“But how does the lad react now? Big couple of months for him because it will knock him sideways, definitely.”
Newcastle fall short on the only deal they wanted
Merson is right to a certain extent. Failing to sign Guehi is not a good look, given the fact that he was the club’s one and only centre-back target.
Eddie Howe made it clear that he only wanted Guehi, yet Paul Mitchell has been unable to deliver.
The finances have proven to be too much, despite the two clubs only being £5million away from an agreement.
But even at £70million, Guehi was probably overpriced. As Merson says, his value seems to have shot up after the Euros, even if his £30million claim is fanciful! Regardless, it was a surprise to see Newcastle make a move given the money involved.
They obviously thought a deal was doable, for a fee that they felt was affordable. However, that has not proven to be the case.
It means that Newcastle are slightly short at centre-back, with Eddie Howe having Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth as right-sided central defenders, and Dan Burn and Lloyd Kelly on the left.
After that, Newcastle will have to turn to youth, as they continue to wait for Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles to return from injury.
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