Despite claims it was ‘close’ on Monday, the Marc Guehi speculation has rumbled on, with Sky Sports confirming on Friday that our second offer – in the region of £50m – has been rejected by Crystal Palace.
It makes you wonder where the truth lies, particularly as Eddie Howe seemed genuine when he said he didn’t know what was going on when speaking to the press on Thursday morning.
Of course, Eddie may well and know more than he let on and I’m sure the next few days will reveal something that will either delight or be questioned by our fanbase. However, I am left wondering about Palace’s rumoured price tag and another long-term target in Malick Thiaw; who Howe revealed his appreciation for just last week.
Let me clarify that I’d love for Guehi to arrive. He’s Premier League proven, can play on the left or right, is good age (24), a great character and would add some much-needed athleticism to our poll of centre-backs, but £65m feels steep and you wonder what a club-record fee like this would do for our transfer budget, PSR and our ability to also bring in a much-needed right winger this summer.
Others are confident it happens, but there’s a slightly worry that it’s dragged on all week, leaving me to wonder if a move for Malick Thiaw could be revisited if Palace refuse to lower their £65m demands.
At the end of July, Sky Sports’ Keith Downie revealed that AC Milan are demanding €40m (£34m) for the 23-year-old German, meaning he could theoretically cost a whopping £31m less than the fee Palace are demanding for Guehi. Is that better value for money and a deal that frees up the funds required to sign a top right-winger?
Newcastle will have a plan, but I do fear for us and the potential backlash if the positivity of Guehi’s arrival is followed by massive frustration that we’ve no longer got the means to bring in a much-needed upgrade for Miguel Almiron; surely our biggest priority heading into the summer?
During these deliberations a new name jumped out to me. Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geetruda; a versatile Dutchman who is 23, comfortable playing at right-sided centre-back or right back and expected to leave for a cut-price fee now he’s out of contract next summer.
This is all very hypothetical at this point, but he’s been linked before, ticks plenty of boxes and his versatility could be key should Kieran Trippier leave, as he could not only compete with Fabian Schar but offer another option alongside Tino Livramento.
Hopefully I’m wrong to have doubts about the Guehi deal and perhaps this time next week I’m getting very excited about his debut in a Toon top, but I do wonder how this could impact our right-winger search, meaning Thiaw could make more sense if Palace refuse to compromise.
Newcastle have had a second bid for Marc Guehi rejected by Crystal Palace ⚫⚪
It was believed to be in the region of £50m with Crystal Palace valuing him at £65m. pic.twitter.com/lEYtA75yuz
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 9, 2024
Definitely go for thiaw .. better use of money .. Marc has had a great season but transfer market rate him at .£35 million whilst four four two and football insider don’t rank him in their top 25 and top 10 centre backs in Europe !!
Mike(Quote)
I agree, even though Guéhi is a good player, is any defender worth that amount of money? Is he really more valuable than Isak?
It’s clear we need a decent right winger, so let’s pay good money for a good attacking winger pick up a decent defender for a reasonable cost. I just can’t see the value in Guéhi.
Rob(Quote)
Do they rate Thiaw in the top 25 or the top 10?
Not being funny about it just curious as for Thiaw I would of been over the moon to have signed him but for me Guehi is a far better signing.
Porkpie(Quote)
Couple of things about his price tag is he’s English and prem lge proven that alone bumps his price up. He would cost more than we paid for Isak but to be fair Isak at 40m is looking like a steal and would probably sell for 100m+
We could also pump out on Thiaw and he could be a total failure (I doubt he would be imo) in the prem lge at least Guehi is proven at this level so no real risk on that front.
Porkpie(Quote)
Just can’t understand how West Ham with no European football can complete a deal hijacking Juventus for a player we were supposed to be interested in and we are still dithering around.
If we think Guehi is too much money we should be decisive and move on.
Joseph(Quote)
Thiaw, to me, is a much better bet than Guehi. As well as he played during the Euros, England only played one decent team in the whole competition, and lost.
Paxx(Quote)
Don’t understand your logic Thiaw didn’t even go to the Euros and has not played that great this season for Milan let alone played in the prem lge like Guehi has and played well there as international call up proves.
Don’t get me wrong i like Thiaw alot but i just see the only thing he has above Guehi at this present time is a cheaper asking price
Porkpie(Quote)
Makes Paul Mitchell look like an incompetent POS. He has one job and that’s recruitment and he is failing badly.
A(Quote)
Makes you wonder if Eddie has any say at all in who to buy to fit into the team. Touch of Dennis the menace and KK
Malcolm Fisher(Quote)