“Newcastle on the Verge of Abandoning Guehi Pursuit Amid Sky-High Demands”
Newcastle United have sent a strong signal to Crystal Palace that they are willing to explore alternatives to their primary target, Marc Guehi.
Crystal Palace, after agreeing to sell Joachim Andersen to Fulham for £30 million, are still holding out for a hefty sum for Guehi. Despite Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish’s reluctance to lose both center-backs, their demands seem risky with just over a week left in the transfer window.
Guehi’s contract has less than two years remaining, and his resale value is currently at its peak following his standout performances at the Euros. Although this justifies Crystal Palace’s high asking price, potentially around £70 million, the club may struggle to command such a fee next year if they don’t secure Guehi on a new contract. With Financial Fair Play restrictions making clubs more cautious, Crystal Palace’s stance carries a significant risk.
Dominic Solanke has been the priciest Premier League signing of the window so far, with Spurs agreeing to a deal worth up to £65 million with Bournemouth. While that is a considerable fee, players like Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Josko Gvardiol, and others commanded transfer fees between £60 million and £100 million just a year ago.
Guehi would likely fall into this category, and Newcastle remain persistent in their pursuit of him. The Magpies have a history of landing top targets late in the transfer window, such as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. However, they are also exploring alternatives in case no agreement is reached. Newcastle’s interest in Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and Chelsea’s Axel Disasi underscores their willingness to move on if Guehi’s price becomes too steep, as manager Eddie Howe has warned.
Tapsoba, who signed a long-term contract with Bayer Leverkusen last year, is a challenging target, especially given the ‘crazy’ release clause in his deal. He had expressed excitement about playing in the Champions League and had no plans to leave after just two years.
Meanwhile, Disasi joined Monaco the same summer that Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell started at the club in 2020. Disasi praised Mitchell for his support during his time in Monaco. However, Disasi recently underwent hernia surgery, and the 26-year-old was not fit to feature in Chelsea’s opening weekend match against Manchester City, amid ongoing changes at Stamford Bridge.