Newcastle face missing out on top transfer target Marc Guehi with move for £70m-rated Palace star on... (original) (raw)

Newcastle face missing out on top transfer target Marc Guehi with move for £70m-rated Palace star on the brink of collapse... causing tensions to rise behind the scenes at St James'

Published: 10:58 EST, 29 August 2024 | Updated: 16:03 EST, 29 August 2024

Newcastle face missing out on Eddie Howe‘s top transfer target, Marc Guehi, with tensions rising behind the scenes at St James’ Park.

Howe told new sporting director Paul Mitchell that the Crystal Palace defender was the one he wanted this summer.

Mitchell, we are told, said he would deliver the England star. He was also sold on the idea of recruiting the 24-year-old.

However, after a drawn-out saga in which the price for Guehi has risen to close to £70million after a series of failed offers, the move is on the brink of collapse.

Palace chairman Steve Parish now wants in excess of £70m and the situation is complicated by a knee injury to defender Chadi Riad.

Newcastle face missing out on Eddie Howe‘s (right) top transfer target Marc Guehi (left)

New sporting director Paul Mitchell (front), we are told, said he would deliver the England star

We understand that Howe, in recent weeks, has said that Guehi was the only player he felt could strengthen the starting XI from those who remained available. There were other targets earlier in the summer but they joined other clubs.

There is now a likelihood that no defender will arrive if the Guehi move is not salvaged before Friday’s deadline.

Sources have also indicated that Mitchell had misgivings about Guehi being the only option, and that he would have preferred more targets. But given the protracted nature of the Guehi approach, other targets are said to have moved on.

It all leaves unanswered questions about relationships inside the club, with Mitchell and chief executive Darren Eales in danger of ending their first transfer window together on a sour note.

There is now a likelihood that no defender will arrive at St James' Park if the Guehi move is not salvaged before the deadline, despite Newcastle having other targets earlier in the window

Howe has been told to concentrate on coaching the team since the arrival of Mitchell and the departure of his transfer allies Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi earlier this summer.

The failure to move on players such as Miguel Almiron has also left the Magpies unable to strengthen in the right-wing position, an area Howe had identified as a priority coming into the window.