Cesar Tarrega of U21 Spain controls the ball during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Quarter-Final match between Spain and England at A. Malatinsky Stadium on June 21, 2025 in Trnava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)placeholder image
Cesar Tarrega of U21 Spain controls the ball during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Quarter-Final match between Spain and England at A. Malatinsky Stadium on June 21, 2025 in Trnava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Marc Guehi remains a top target for Newcastle United but Liverpool have emerged as favourites.
Newcastle United have been linked with a new name in their search for a centre-back.
Bolstering the position remains a top priority for Magpies’ boss Eddie Howe, who last summer made Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi his number one target. However, a deal couldn’t be agreed, with the Eagles demanding in the region of £70million.
Guehi remains near the top of the wish list and is expected to leave Selhurst Park this summer after entering the final year of his contract. For Palace, it is their last opportunity to command a sizeable fee for the England international with a new deal growing increasingly unlikely.
Newcastle United concern as Liverpool eye Marc Guehi move
But unlike last year, United no longer have a free run at the player with Premier League champions Liverpool emerging as favourites. A potential domino effect has emerged and Howe’s side look set to miss out.
As first reported by The Telegraph, the Reds are expected to table a “significant offer” for Guehi once Jarell Quansah’s £35m move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen is confirmed.
Quansah has admirers at Newcastle. Last year, they requested he was included in the potential PSR swindle that would have seen Anthony Gordon move to Liverpool. But Liverpool countered by putting forward Joe Gomez.
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Ultimately, the deals didn’t happen after the Magpies raised the relevant funds through the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively.
Quansah started at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk for last season’s Premier League opener against Ipswich Town but after being hooked at half-time made just three further starts. Arne Slot’s side have inserted a buy-back clause in the 22-year-old’s contract but, at least in the short term, view Guehi as a more suitable option.
It’s understood Crystal Palace have lined up Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande as Guehi’s replacement. The Ivorian has been linked with Newcastle but is not thought to be a genuine target, NewcastleWorld understands.
Newcastle United interested in Valencia’s Cesar Tarrega - reports
Newcastle are therefore assessing their centre-back options and according to Spanish publication El Desmarque, are interested in Valencia’s Cesar Tarrega.
The 21-year-old was a regular in the Valencia starting XI last season after returning from a loan spell at Real Valladolid. Not only has he impressed in La Liga but also at the under-21s European Championship, where Spain reached the semi-final before losing to England on Wednesday.
Whether the Magpies’ interest is genuine remains to be seen. It could be that United are being used as part of a possible tactic to speed up contract negotiations.
Tarrega is under contract until 2028 and is keen to sign an extension to reflected his enhanced status within in the team.
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