All eyes will be on Marc Guehi when Newcastle United face Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Magpies tried desperately hard to sign Marc Guehi during the summer, only to fall short.
Now Newcastle could bid for Guehi again, as the January transfer window looms.
Geordie Boot Boys have been told that Guehi remains Newcastle’s top centre-back target, with Emil Krafth’s injury reinforcing the need for defensive additions in 2025.
The game at Selhurst Park on Saturday will be the 24-year-old’s first against Newcastle since his failed move, and it will be interesting to see how he performs. Toon officials will be watching him closely, as they weigh up a fresh approach.
However, Guehi is not the only Crystal Palace player who Newcastle United’s recruitment team should be focussing on.
Newcastle United need a player like Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace gestures to the spectators as he celebrates his goal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Aston Villa an...
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Newcastle lost 2-0 to West Ham on Monday. Eddie Howe’s side were really disappointing, as Newcastle once again struggled to break down a low block.
The Hammers sat in and protected their lead, as Newcastle probed and probed without finding a way through.
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It highlighted Newcastle’s need for a winger, while it also suggested they could do with a central player who is capable of carving open defences.
That is why Toon officials should watch Eberechi Eze very closely on Saturday.
What Oliver Glasner said about Eberechi Eze’s fitness
However, that will depend on whether Eze is fit to feature for Crystal Palace.
The ‘mesmerising‘ 26-year-old has missed the Eagles’ previous three games through injury, but was close to making his comeback away to Aston Villa last weekend.
That is according to Oliver Glasner, who spoke about Eze’s fitness ahead of the 2-2 draw with Villa.
“Ebs would like to be involved in tomorrow’s game, but I took the decision not to take him with us to Villa,” he said, as reported by The Standard.
“It’s a little bit too risky. He trained during the week, but it’s too near when it happened. When we see our schedule, we have to protect our players.
“When we see our schedule after the Villa game, with eight games in December, we can’t take any risks, so that’s why Ebs is not involved in tomorrow’s game.
“We had a long chat today, because he’s very ambitious. He’s a great guy, he worked really hard and he wanted to be with us. He feels he’s ready, and it’s him who wants to play. Of course, I want him to play. But as I mentioned, we have to protect him.
“Therefore we said: ‘OK, yes we lose [him] for one game, but we win eight or nine days. And maybe then we win eight games, and we all hope to win at the Emirates in the Carabao [Cup].”
Newcastle discussed signing Eze in the summer
Glasner’s comments would suggest that Eze will be fit to face Newcastle United on Saturday.
That makes it an even harder game for the Magpies, as Eze tormented Newcastle when the two sides last met.
He was outstanding during Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win, and that performance was probably one of the reasons why Newcastle discussed signing Eze over the summer.
Unfortunately, that is as far as it went, but Eze is certainly still a player who could massively enhance this Newcastle United squad.
He is a creative force, with his elegance on the ball allowing him to force so many openings for either himself or his teammates. Eze has qualities that Newcastle United do not have, yet so desperately need.
As 2025 looms and Newcastle plan their next major signing, Eze is certainly a player who Paul Mitchell should be keeping a close eye on, possibly as early as Saturday.
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