Eddie Howe is a big fan of Marc Guehi but the Magpies were invited to push for the centre-back at the end of the season
Newcastle United chiefs believe that Eddie Howe is not even halfway through his transfer mission at St James’ Park – and will not be pushed into panic deals in the current window.
With PSR restrictions still a hurdle for United, the Magpies are prepared to walk away from any deals that threaten to break their financial structure at St James’.
Do Newcastle have money to spend? Yes. However, they won’t pay over the odds on valuations with each target carefully assessed by Newcastle’s data driven recruitment team in the past few months.
Howe is eager to make that first signing of the summer, but the Magpies have been told to bid up on both Joao Pedro, Anthony Elanga, and James Trafford already in this window, while other high quotes have come their way on a B list.
Newcastle will remain cool in the heat of the summer window though and the feeling is it could take another few years to truly get to the levels of Man City and Chelsea when it comes to squad strength. Both Premier League clubs are currently playing for a £100m prize pot at the FIFA World Club Cup that could take them even further away from Newcastle.
It was commercial chief Peter Silverstone who spoke of playing “catch up” to the likes of City and the Blues, and bearing in mind it took the Citizens a decade to get to the level they have been at in recent seasons, that fact has not been lost at St James’ Park.
The black and whites feel that this summer will be another building block in the process. Howe’s first XI is not far away from being at the level he wants it to be, but back-up options and improving the bench are a big part of the summer process.
Behind the scenes, there is still hope that Newcastle will have a signing through the door for the early part of pre-season, and while there is nobody unveiled yet, Chronicle Live has been assured that hard work behind the scenes is going on and that Howe is a calm figure so far this month.
Newcastle snub Marc Guehi bid deadline
United hopes of re-igniting their bid for Marc Guehi could be scuppered after Liverpool stepped up their interest in the Crystal Palace captain.
After another Newcastle defensive target, Jarell Quansah, heads to Bayer Leverkusen, the Reds have firmed up their interest in Guehi this summer. The Magpies fell short with their bid to sign Guehi last summer after they left the room at the £70m mark.
But now Palace will be forced to accept a lot less for the England centre-half with just one year left on his deal and a danger of the ex-Chelsea man running his contract down. As Palace push on to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon, another favourite of United head of recruitment Steve Nickson, it feels like the writing is on the wall at Selhurst Park.
If Liverpool act quickly in the next few days Guehi could be another name that Newcastle have to cross off their list. There is no panic at United defensively with Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar on the books plus Emil Krafth as cover. Youngster Alex Murphy is also set to start pre-season with the Magpies and offers another solution.
However, at one stage a lot of Newcastle fans had their heart set on Guehi on the back of his impressive run at Euro 2024. His performance as Palace captain as they lifted the FA Cup and beat Man City in the final was also impressive.
With Liverpool’s recruitment drive in full flow the Anfield club seem in the mood to make another big signing and Guehi could fit the bill, though they may also look for a younger model.
Newcastle were encouraged to come forward for Guehi before the window opened and while those close to the centre-back have not discounted the Magpies yet, Liverpool seem to have some genuine momentum.
