What those inside Newcastle United are saying about a move for Marc Guehi in January is very interesting

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Newcastle United fans will remember the summer pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi well.

It wasn’t the best start to sporting director Paul Mitchell’s time at the club with him being unable to properly implement his transfer strategy midway through a transfer window.

The signings of Lloyd Kelly, John Ruddy, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Lewis Hall were completely overshadowed by the failure to land top targets and the sale of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh.

Newcastle’s failed Marc Guehi approaches were what really grabbed the headlines however with reported bids of up to £70million being rejected by Crystal Palace.

The rejections left Mitchell, who believed Newcastle would sign Guehi, red-faced that he couldn’t land Howe his top target.

It was a saga that took all the limelight in the summer and now recent reports suggest it could steal headlines in January too.

Guehi to Newcastle isn’t being ruled out

Although Newcastle want a striker, winger and goalkeeper in January, a move for a defender hasn’t been ruled out with Benfica’s Antonio Silva also wanted by Newcastle.

Now, according to The Athletic, Newcastle remain keen admirers of Guehi even after Palace’s shaky start to the season which sees them sat just three points off the relegation zone.

Despite the interest, the feeling around the club is that a January move would be difficult but hasn’t been completely ruled out.

The Magpies still have Sven Botman’s return to look forward to but the lingering contract expires of Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles gives Mitchell something to think about.

Guehi has made 18 appearances in the Premier League this season, playing every minute of the campaign under Oliver Glasner.

Paul Mitchell wants Newcastle to look abroad

Although Guehi is still a target for Newcastle, it goes against the strategy Mitchell has put in place.

Newcastle want to recruit youth from overseas in an attempt to find cheaper options that will help alleviate the ongoing pressures that PSR has put on the club.

The Athletic report also suggests that Newcastle want 18-year-old Juma Bah who is on loan from Real Valladolid from AIK Freetong while summer interest in AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw could be reignited.

Newcastle have looked at Edmond Tapsoba as a possible option. The Magpies made contact with Bayer Leverkusen in August over a potential deal for the 25-year-old but nothing materialised.

With margins for investment looking slim, Newcastle could also look at extending Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles’ contracts. Both their deals run out in the summer but with Schar’s good performances, there is a chance he could be offered a new contract.