Newcastle still want Guéhi – but what will it take to get him?

The assumption when Fulham agreed a fee for Joachim Andersen, the Crystal Palace centre half, on Tuesday night was that Newcastle United’s long-standing pursuit of Marc Guéhi had finally reached its conclusion. That is not the case.
Newcastle have a maximum fee they will pay for the England centre back, and there is still room for the transfer to happen. Their initial offer, without add-ons, has so far not gone beyond £60million, shy of what Palace believe he is worth. They have certainly not given up hope, as long as it comes within their valuation. The player is said to be open to the move. Four bids have not tempted Palace to sell their captain, but it is a deal that could yet be completed.
The Palace owner, Steve Parish, had intimated he would not be looking to sell both of his club’s first-choice central defenders in the same window, but was certainly not definitive.
Newcastle, fresh from shaking off fears of breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules after the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, are in a position to buy. They desperately need new players and a right-sided centre back is said to now be an absolute priority, with the transfer window closing on August 30.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah and AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw are both potential back-up options who have been watched and discussed, but Guéhi remains the first choice. It would be a statement to land a full England international.
This is Paul Mitchell’s first transfer window since he was appointed as sporting director, replacing Dan Ashworth, who has joined Manchester United. His remit is different to Ashworth’s was, however, and he has far more say in transfers. Previously there was a transfer committee, which included Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, the former co-owners who have both now left the club. Eddie Howe, the head coach, was on it too. He now waits to hear from Mitchell, who has led the negotiations to land Guéhi, adding to the importance of a breakthrough in what would be his first major deal.
Newcastle’s victory against Southampton on the opening day, achieved with ten men after the controversial dismissal of Fabian Schär, has glossed over the weakness of their display and also Howe’s comments before the game that he did not have many more options than the players he was using. That too felt significant, given Howe’s comments in Germany in pre-season, when he talked of the importance of being happy at the club amid speculation linking him to the job of England manager.
There is also the issue of what happens next with Kieran Trippier, who has lost his starting place at right back to Tino Livramento. Trippier asked to play for the club’s under-21s side on Monday night, in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland, having been an unused substitute against Southampton. It is not thought he will start in Newcastle’s next match, away against Bournemouth on Sunday.
There is interest in the 33-year-old England defender from Italy in the form of Atalanta, who have qualified for the league stage of the Champions League, and from the Turkish champions Galatasaray. West Ham United were also interested earlier in the summer.
Newcastle may have to drop their asking fee if there is a genuine desire to sell a player who is popular in the dressing room.
• Window watch: Forest closing in on £30m for Arsena’s Nketiah
The uncertainty means there is an unusual state of flux at Newcastle under Howe so near to the end of a transfer window. It has largely been a harmonious enterprise since the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021. Now, however, there is a desire for a wide forward to also be added to the squad.
Newcastle believe the return to full fitness of Joe Willock, who was an unused substitute against Southampton, and the end of Sandro Tonali’s ten-month suspension for breaching betting rules, which is entering its final week, will be major boosts.
The 24-year-old Tonali will make his comeback against Nottingham Forest on August 28 in the Carabao Cup at the City Ground. It will be the first time he has kicked a ball for the club since a Champions League group game against Borussia Dortmund last October.