Newcastle United have been heavily linked with Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov over the past few weeks, but Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi remains one to watch given our serious attempts to sign him over the summer.

Manchester City’s growing interest in the Uzbekistani 20-year-old has made a move to Newcastle become unlikely, making some wonder if the England international will soon re-enter our thoughts in 2025. 

Guehi is contracted until 2026 so the ball is ultimately in Crystal Palace’s court whether they want to cash in now or risk losing him on a free in 18 months.

Palace issue Marc Guehi update

It appears as though if Guehi wants to leave then he will be allowed to do so – but there has been no indication from South London that the centre-back is pushing for a move.

Asked in a recent press conference if he thinks Guehi will stay at Selhurt Park this month, Oliver Glasner said: “I think so. No player from our squad came to me and said [they] want to leave. No one.

“No one that played all the games, all the minutes, like Marc, and no one from the players who didn’t play so many minutes. This is the most relevant part: what the player tells me.

“If one is coming and says they want to leave and both clubs find an agreement, I think it will happen. But as long as a player doesn’t come — and Marc didn’t come — I am really not concerned he will leave.”

From an outside view, I wouldn’t be filled with confidence if Eddie Howe couldn’t say with conviction that a star player would be staying at the club in the mid-season window.

However, Palace fans could take some solace that if Guehi wants to stay then the club won’t force him out of his contract to recoup some money – but how much the defender would cost regardless remains unclear.

Palace demands set to be key?

We made multiple attempts to sign the Crystal Palace centre-back over the summer, but eventually walked away from a deal after the Eagles reportedly turned down our final offer worth £65m.

Newcastle hope Palace will listen to offers for Guehi at a ‘far more reasonable’ £50m in January – however the form of Dan Burn, and the return of Sven Botman, leave Newcastle in a strong enough position this winter to avoid defensive reinforcements to free up funds for a right-winger.

With it being suggested Guehi will stay put this month anyway, Palace will have to further drop their evaluation in the summer when just one year remains on his deal, though that may simultaneously see more become interested in acquiring the defender’s services.