Newcastle are reportedly confident of signing England star Marc Guehi and could confirm a deal for the defender before the weekend. The Crystal Palace ace is claimed to be keen on a switch to Tyneside which could cost the Magpies well in excess of £60million.
Guehi has entered the final two years of his contract at Palace and has shown little desire to sign a new deal at Selhurst Park, despite the Eagles' excellent end to last season under Oliver Glasner. Reports suggest that the 24-year-old asked his representatives to complete a move to Newcastle after their interest became apparent last week.
According to the Daily Telegraph, talks between Newcastle and Palace have not concluded but there is apparent confidence on both sides that an agreement can be reached. The south Londoners have told any interested parties that they will need to pay more than £60m for their vice-captain, a price that Newcastle have not baulked at.
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Discussions over personal terms are unlikely to throw up any issues, the report adds. The move would be a huge coup for Newcastle, who would be signing one of Euro 2024's best central defenders. Liverpool had also been linked with Guehi but had not accelerated any talks with Palace.
A fee of £60m would represent excellent business for Palace, who had risked losing Guehi for a much less amount the longer he remained without signing a new contract. They also received a similar fee for winger Michael Olise and are in a healthy position heading into the final month of the transfer window.
Guehi will hope to solidify his place in the England team under the next national team boss, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He took advantage of Harry Maguire's absence from the European Championship and formed an excellent relationship with defensive partner John Stones.
Newcastle have not signed a regular England player since they lured Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, right at the start of the Saudi Arabian-led era. For new sporting director Paul Mitchell, who has replaced Dan Ashworth at St. James' Park, the arrival of Guehi would represent an exciting first piece of business.
Guehi, a former Chelsea academy graduate who joined Palace for £18m in 2021, made 25 Premier League appearances this season. His impact was limited by a knee injury, and he only returned on the final day of the campaign after missing 13 matches.
