Newcastle United are keen on Marc Guehi.
That much is obvious, with Newcastle having already made a number of bids for the England defender.
Still, despite the fact Crystal Palace are reportedly willing to sell Guehi this summer having entered the final two years of his contract, a fee is yet to have been agreed.
As a result, sporting director Paul Mitchell is believed to be looking for alternatives.
While there is said to be confidence a deal can still be done, Newcastle remain without their leading defensive transfer target.
Now, more insight has emerged.
What Newcastle are currently being tested about in Marc Guehi talks
According to Miguel Delaney in his latest Reading the Game newsletter, Palace are testing Newcastle’s spending power.
Indeed, there have previously suggestions that rival clubs believe Newcastle will need to make a major sale if they are to spend big money this summer, despite raising enough money to meet PSR requirements in June.
Palace are understood to be testing just how much Newcastle can actually spend this summer, amid some of the debate about the budget. Now, it’s time to see if a deal can be done without letting a key player leave St James’ Park.
As it stands, the state of the deal is said to be 50/50.
Newcastle need to make a quick-fire decision on Marc Guehi
Palace are believed to have already told Newcastle that they will not consider selling Guehi in the final week of the window, given they will have to go out and sign a replacement.
Clearly, with the window shutting next week anyway, Newcastle are running out of time even if Palace were to soften that stance.
Guehi is certainly a logical target but Newcastle cannot leave themselves in a position where they will be left without a new centre-back just because they wasted time haggling over a valuation they never had any intention of meeting.
Missing out on Guehi would be a disappointment. Missing out on a new defender entirely feels like negligence, particularly with Eddie Howe admitting his defence needed work straight after last season ended…
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