Newcastle United are reportedly ready to revive their interest in Marc Guehi, but have surely left it far too late now.
Newcastle tried and failed to sign Guehi in 2024 but saw a number of huge offers rejected as Crystal Palace stood firm.
Guehi then went on to have a brilliant season for Palace, captaining them to a historic FA Cup win a few months ago.
Newcastle want to sign a new defender this summer and Guehi has remained of interest.
Now, The Times claim that Newcastle are prepared to go back in for the Palace star.
Here’s why it’s a bad idea.
Marc Guehi playing for Crystal Palace in a pre-season friendly against Millwall.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Newcastle United interested in Marc Guehi again
Guehi would be a brilliant signing for Newcastle, there’s little doubting that.
However, what the club don’t need is another protracted transfer saga this summer.
Newcastle are struggling to sign players and, according to the report, they do not want to pay more than £40million for Guehi – £10million below their valuation. If Newcastle were baffled by Liverpool’s first bid for Alexander Isak as it was well under their asking price, quite why they would do the same to Palace is unclear.
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It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Palace accept that. Granted, the former Chelsea youngster has only a year left on his contract but the Eagles are scrambling for signings themselves.
They proved their ability to drive a hard bargain last summer and seem incredibly unlikely to make life easy for Newcastle or any other buying club, particularly with the start of the Premier League season so close.
Guehi could run his contract down at Palace too, and be in a dream position next summer. In that event, he’d enter the market as a free agent in 2026 and would likely have his pick of lucrative offers.
It’s said that Palace want £50million and little about the talks between the two clubs last summer would suggest they would be prepared to budge.
Newcastle simply do not have time to waste. Guehi is an excellent player, but they’ve been here before.
Wasting time in talks with a club who have given absolutely no reason to suggest they’re willing to soften in their stance feels unwise during a small window in which Newcastle desperately need to strengthen.
Crystal Palace have already dropped Marc Guehi transfer hint
Guehi was used to model Palace’s away kit for the 2025/26 season, which is perhaps a hint over his future.
Clearly, that does not mean he’ll definitely be staying but it would at least suggest the club have a reasonable amount of confidence in keeping him.
It would be understandable if Guehi wanted to stay an extra year and run his contract down, too.
If Guehi were to become a free agent next summer, he’d likely have his pick of clubs and would presumably be in line to bank a significant signing-on fee.
Newcastle have wasted enough time on Guehi. Now, they must move on.