‘Top’ player Newcastle United bid £70m for has now decided to run down his contract

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Newcastle United broke their transfer record in the summer of 2025, having failed to do so in 2024.

Nick Woltemade joined Newcastle United, arriving from Stuttgart for £65million. The deal could even rise to £69million with add-ons.

That fee makes him Newcastle’s most expensive player, surpassing the £63million that was spent on Alexander Isak. It is a huge investment from PIF, 12 months after missing out on the opportunity to smash the club’s transfer record.

In the summer of 2024, Newcastle relentlessly pursued Marc Guehi. He was Eddie Howe’s top target, with Newcastle offering £70million for Guehi.

Crystal Palace said no, with Steve Parish deciding that the centre-back was simply too valuable. This summer Guehi almost left for just £35million to Liverpool, but once again the Eagles stood firm.

Now the reality is that Guehi is going to become a free agent.

Marc Guehi will be available on a free transfer

On transfer deadline day, Liverpool bought Alexander Isak for a British record fee of £125million. However, they were unable to complete a deal for Guehi.

Comparisons have been made between Isak and Guehi. One acted disgracefully, the other showed grace. However, only one of them got the transfer they wanted.

But Guehi will get his move eventually, and he is ready to wait until the summer of 2026.

According to Miguel Delaney’s Inside Football newsletter, it is ‘highly unlikely’ that Guehi will leave Crystal Palace during the January transfer window.

They add that he intends to run his contract down and explore his options as a free agent next summer.

From a PSR perspective, that is devastating for Crystal Palace. In 2024, they had £70million on the table. Two years later and they will not receive a penny.

However, that can be caveated by the fact that Palace won the FA Cup with Guehi earlier this year. For Palace fans, that moment is priceless.

Dan Burn admits he is in competition with Marc Guehi

Howe had wanted Guehi to move to St James’ Park, where he would have been teammates with Dan Burn.

However, the defensive duo are now competitors at international level.

That is according to Burn, who has spoken about his England colleague Guehi ahead of the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier against Andorra.

Obviously, Marc is a top player and was very close to a move to Liverpool as well,” he said.

“I feel like it keeps us pushing, and I feel like that’s what the gaffer [Thomas Tuchel] wants in possession and the patterns he wants us to get further up the pitch, and it suits that.

“Yeah, right at this moment, I’d probably agree that he [Guehi] is the direct competition [for England].”