Newcastle United do not appear to be giving up in their pursuit of Marc Guehi.
The Magpies have been chasing Marc Guehi for almost a month now, but are still unable to strike an agreement with Crystal Palace.
There was hope on Wednesday morning that Newcastle were suddenly closer to signing Guehi, despite fears that Palace would aim to keep the 24-year-old following an injury concern for fellow centre-back Chadi Riad.
All the while, Newcastle have been linked with signing Mohamed Simakan instead. He is an exciting alternative to Guehi, while his current club RB Leipzig are lining up Antonio Silva as a replacement.
Marc Guehi to Newcastle United still expected to go through
There are so many moving parts, while Newcastle United fans are waiting nervously to see who, if anyone, arrives before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Friday night.
According the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, it will still be Marc Guehi, with the journalist stating on his YouTube channel on Wednesday night that he still anticipates that the England international will move to St James’ Park.
“My information is…I still think Marc Guehi will happen,” he said.
“Palace were waiting to get the centre-half in. I think there has been movement on that today in terms of them agreeing a price.
“Once that happens I do expect Guehi to arrive at Newcastle United.”
Crystal Palace close in on Marc Guehi replacement
Hope suggests that the deal may hinge on Crystal Palace signing a replacement, which they became much closer to doing on Wednesday.
The Eagles have been trying to sign Maxence Lacroix from Wolfsburg, and made a breakthrough in negotiations following their Carabao Cup win over Norwich City.
Crystal Palace have agreed an £18million fee for Lacroix, and Hope believes that transfer could unlock the door for Newcastle United to bring Guehi to St James’ Park.
Fabrizio Romano has also stated on X on Thursday morning that the deal for Palace to sign Lacroix is on, with the defender due to undergo a medical.
He wrote on X: “Maxence Lacroix to Crystal Palace, story confirmed and here we go! All documents are approved by #CPFC and Wolfsburg, fee around £18m. He’s always been the #1 target for Glasner to replace Andersen. Medical in London in the next 24h.”
Newcastle will face major scrutiny if they do not get Guehi over the line
Given how much time Newcastle have committed to getting Guehi, it would be a crushing blow if the Magpies were unable to agree a deal. It would make a frustrating summer transfer window even more agonising, and major questions would need to be asked of those behind the scenes.
Instead, there is still a chance that Newcastle United could break their transfer record before 11pm on Friday. Alexander Isak is currently Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever, but that could change if Guehi arrives.
Hope is still confident that he will, despite the speculation surrounding Simakan.
It has been one of the Magpies’ priorities all summer, yet Newcastle United are seemingly leaving it as late as possible.
Marc Guehi remains the top target, as Eddie Howe aims to bring the 24-year-old to St James’ Park. There was hope on Wednesday that Newcastle were suddenly closer to a deal for Guehi, but it remains to be seen if that is the case.
If a Guehi transfer is not possible then Toon officials will need to seek out an alternative. The likes of Edmond Tapsoba and Axel Disasi have been linked with Newcastle, while Mohamed Simakan is currently the biggest name to be rumoured to be Toon bound if the Guehi deal collapses.
The 24-year-old is an alternative option for Newcastle, with Simakan possibly available for £42million. That would make him much cheaper than Guehi, who could cost as much as £70million.
Financially, it probably makes sense to go for Simakan ahead of Guehi.
And while Crystal Palace are trying to stand firm, RB Leipzig are putting plans in place in case their defender does leave.
That is according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who has stated on X that RB Leipzig are in talks with Benfica about a deal for Portuguese centre-back Antonio Silva.
He adds that talks are also ongoing with his agent, with there now being a ‘serious chance’ for Silva to join the Bundesliga club.
Plettenberg adds that a deal may depend on whether or not Simakan leaves, although there is a possibility that he could arrive no matter what.
RB Leipzig are preparing themselves for the possibility that Simakan goes. That could mean that there is an opportunity for Newcastle to land their Marc Guehi alternative.
But Newcastle will need to make a decision quick, because they do not want to leave it too late to pivot away from Guehi and go all in on Simakan.
Plus, there is the added bonus that a cheaper deal for Simakan could hopefully mean there is additional money to spend elsewhere – possibly on a winger. But that is fanciful thinking given how much Newcastle United have struggled to get one major deal over the line this summer.
With the clock ticking, Newcastle are still yet to sign a centre-back. But there could be a clear path for them to bring in Simakan, if they suddenly decide to pull out of a deal for Guehi.
That is a big issue, and something that Paul Mitchell must address before the transfer window closes on Friday at 11pm.
It is very much a race against time, with Newcastle still aiming to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Mohamed Simakan is an alternative for Newcastle, with Toon officials very keen to bring in a centre-back.
There have also been suggestions of another goalkeeper arriving, with Newcastle re-entering talks to sign James Trafford from Burnley.
While that deal may or may not happen, a goalkeeper that Newcastle targeted before Trafford is set to join one of the Magpies’ Premier League rivals.
According to Sky Sports, Southampton have agreed an initial £18million fee with Arsenal to sign Aaron Ramsdale.
They report that the deal could rise to £25million with add-ons, as Ramsdale finally gets set to leave the Emirates Stadium.
Sky Sports add that he will undergo his Southampton medical today.
Interestingly, Ramsdale looks set to replace Alex McCarthy, who made a very costly error against Newcastle United on the opening day of the new Premier League season.
Southampton are set to strengthen their goalkeeping department before the transfer window closes. And it is a deal that Eddie Howe will look at enviously, as he wanted to bring Ramsdale to St James’ Park earlier this summer.
Ramsdale was one of Newcastle’s top targets, while Geordie Boot Boys were told by HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey back in May that Eddie Howe was especially keen for the 26-year-old to arrive.
Bailey said: “Eddie Howe wants Aaron Ramsdale. He’s available. Howe wants him and I think Howe will get him.”
At the time, Newcastle were planning to bring in a goalkeeper that would challenge Nick Pope for a place in the starting XI.
However, that plan changed when Manchester United won the FA Cup, which resulted in Newcastle United missing out on Europe completely.
From that moment, the Magpies pivoted to Trafford, only for that deal to stall.
Instead, Newcastle signed a 37-year-old John Ruddy, whilst also spending £20million on Odysseas Vlachodimos to help Nottingham Forest comply with PSR after they gave the Magpies a hand by buying Elliot Anderson for £35million.
The goalkeeping situation at Newcastle United has been a real shambles this summer, and it will be all the more infuriating for Howe if Ramsdale goes on to thrive as a Southampton player.
The Magpies won on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup, with Newcastle beating Nottingham Forest on penalties to advance to the third round of the competition.
However, the victory came at a price for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe.
Joe Willock started the game, and was on the scoresheet within the first minute. He scored after 18 seconds, getting a tap in as he followed in Alexander Isak’s saved shot.
It was a great moment for Willock, but his joy was short lived. The 25-year-old was forced off in the 14th minute, with a thigh issue meaning he was unable to carry on.
He was replaced by Bruno Guimaraes, who had initially been given a rest by Eddie Howe for the Carabao Cup clash at the City Ground.
But Willock’s issue meant that Bruno had to come on much earlier than anticipated, with Howe admitting after the game that he had wanted to ‘protect’ his £40million captain.
Following the win over Forest, Howe spoke to NUFC TV about picking a strong team for the Carabao Cup contest.
“We’re determined to do well and to do well you have to name good teams,” he said.
“We are aware, of course, of the game on Sunday, and we had to protect some players. I wanted to protect Bruno a bit more than I was able to.
“Joe picked up an injury – it’s terrible luck for Joe, but I don’t know how bad it is. It was enough to take him off the pitch. That was a huge blow for us, and it actually knocked our rhythm.”
Devastating to lose Joe Willock to injury
While bringing Bruno on actually made the Newcastle team stronger, it was such a blow to lose Willock.
It was his first start of the season, and he had kicked it off perfectly. Given what happened last season, that goal would have been a brilliant moment.
However, celebrations turned to despair shortly after. You could see how upset Willock was when he was forced off, and the hope is that it is not a major injury.
After enduring so many problems last season then working so hard to return to fitness, it is agonising to see Willock pick up another problem. Given how much football he missed last season, Willock is seen as a new signing at Newcastle, so to lose him so soon is gutting.
Everyone associated with Newcastle United will have everything crossed that it is not a major issue and that he is able to return very soon.
Following the win over Forest, Howe spoke to NUFC TV about picking a strong team for the Carabao Cup contest.
“We’re determined to do well and to do well you have to name good teams,” he said.
“We are aware, of course, of the game on Sunday, and we had to protect some players. I wanted to protect Bruno a bit more than I was able to.
“Joe picked up an injury – it’s terrible luck for Joe, but I don’t know how bad it is. It was enough to take him off the pitch. That was a huge blow for us, and it actually knocked our rhythm.”
Devastating to lose Joe Willock to injury
While bringing Bruno on actually made the Newcastle team stronger, it was such a blow to lose Willock.
It was his first start of the season, and he had kicked it off perfectly. Given what happened last season, that goal would have been a brilliant moment.
However, celebrations turned to despair shortly after. You could see how upset Willock was when he was forced off, and the hope is that it is not a major injury.
After enduring so many problems last season then working so hard to return to fitness, it is agonising to see Willock pick up another problem. Given how much football he missed last season, Willock is seen as a new signing at Newcastle, so to lose him so soon is gutting.
Everyone associated with Newcastle United will have everything crossed that it is not a major issue and that he is able to return very soon.
While bringing Bruno on actually made the Newcastle team stronger, it was such a blow to lose Willock.
It was his first start of the season, and he had kicked it off perfectly. Given what happened last season, that goal would have been a brilliant moment.
However, celebrations turned to despair shortly after. You could see how upset Willock was when he was forced off, and the hope is that it is not a major injury.
After enduring so many problems last season then working so hard to return to fitness, it is agonising to see Willock pick up another problem. Given how much football he missed last season, Willock is seen as a new signing at Newcastle, so to lose him so soon is gutting.
Everyone associated with Newcastle United will have everything crossed that it is not a major issue and that he is able to return very soon.
The speed in which he moves the ball is really going to help the Magpies, while Eddie Howe wants Tonali and Bruno to dovetail as a double-pivot as Newcastle aim to transition from midfield to attack.
Tonali has the ability to do that, whereas it is difficult to say the same about Longstaff.
Dawson is right to be worried about Longstaff’s place in the team, but he will still be a valued squad member. Newcastle need depth and additional cover, and that will be Longstaff’s role – unless he suddenly raises his game to a level so high that Howe has to pick him ahead of Tonali.
