Alongside a right-winger, Newcastle are likely to spend a big chunk of their summer budget on a centre-back this summer.
There haven’t been a great deal of names doing the rounds regarding centre-back targets, with much of the media talk centring around wingers, goalkeepers and strikers, but there is one name that’s never gone away: Marc Guehi.
The Crystal Palace captain was targeted for the entirety of August last summer, only for Paul Mitchell’s pursuit to end in disappointment as a number of bids were turned down by Steve Parish.
A season later, he’s now approaching the final 12 months of his contract in South London, and a new report has discussed Newcastle’s stance over a potential deal this summer as Crystal Palace identify a possible replacement.
According to [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/06/06/newcastle-fury-at-saudi-tax-on-transfers/), Newcastle United are waiting for Marc Guehi’s asking price to fall and may be willing to play a waiting game if it means landing the Palace defender at a lower fee later in the window.
Guehi is out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 season and Luke Edwards reports that the club would be prepared to pay £40m for the centre-back as a result.
Playing a waiting game is a risky move, however, as other suitors could step in, with Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona all linked with a move should a cut-price deal become available.
However, it’s thought Palace already have one eye on his replacement, with The Telegraph revealing that a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon star and previously linked Toon target **Ousmane Diomande** is being explored.
A move for Diomande would be quite a statemnt from Palace, with the 21-year-old Ivorian considered one of the top young centre-backs currently playing in Europe.
A potentially telling sign that Palace are preparing for life without Guehi sooner rather than later?
I’ve seen quite a few fans suggest Guehi isn’t worth the hassle. I agree that we shouldn’t be paying huge money, especially considering his contract situation, but I believe he would be a superb addition to our starting XI and squad.
He’s a leader, can play in either centre-back slot as a right-footer able to play on the left, would add pace to our back line and is very comfortable carrying the ball out from the back.
Guehi is also Premier League proven and could compliment Sven Botman very well, having plenty of room for growth at the age of 24.