Bizarre comments on Marc Guehi as Newcastle close in on £60m Crystal Palace star

Last night, it emerged that Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of Marc Guehi, with the player keen on a move to St James' Park and Crystal Palace prepared to cash in now he's entered the final two years of his contract.

It's not done yet, but the general feeling across social media is this would be a huge coup for the club and a statement signing, seeing us land a Premier League-proven right-footed centre-back who was one of the star defenders at this summer's Euros.

However, ESPN pundit Don Hutchinson isn't so sure. Speaking on the ESPN FC YouTube channel, the Gateshead-born Newcastle fan was asked if he's excited about Guehi's potential arrival on Tyneside. See his response below:

“Not really.  Not because the kid is not a good player. They signed Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer, and they’ve got Sven Botman and Fabian Schar. That’s a lot of money to try and spend on what is potentially a good player, but he might not get in the team.

"Ahead of Botman and Schar? No! (he won't start). You are looking at the number. Why would you spend £60m on a player (who may not start). I don’t think it’s a particularly smart signing. I think you could spend that money elsewhere.

"I know he's a good player. I just look at Newcastle and I think 'that's a lot of money for competition in a position where Newcastle are quite strong when everyone's fit."

It feels like Hutchinson is missing the point here. Fabian Schar turns 33 this year - he's still a brilliant player but he won't be our first choice RCB forever - Sven Botman is still out with an ACL injury and won't be fit for months, and the same is true for Jamaal Lascelles; who is out of contract next summer and also out following a serious knee injury.

As things stand, our only right-footed centre-back is Schar, while Lloyd Kelly has been brought in for his ability to play at left-back or left-sided centre-back.

Guehi is a statement signing that improves our starting 11 immediately. As he's comfortable playing at LCB and RCB, he can slot in alongside Schar while Botman remains out, but looks a perfect partner for the Dutchman in the long run.

There's no doubt that Newcastle also need a quality right winger, but this has been a top priority alongside the arrival of a quality, young right-footed centre-back; and we're about to land the latter in Guehi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfuwuMwUZUA