The transfer market is a real game of chess, and Newcastle United are thinking about how to checkmate it. The Magpies' swoop for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is a clear reflection of the club's ambitions to consolidate their defense and get back to winning ways in the Premier League by securing a place in European competition. But, like any big move, this negotiation is far from straightforward, and Crystal Palace are not going to give up their key player without a fight.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has insisted on signing Guehi, seeing the young English defender as the missing piece to stabilize the Magpies' defence. The manager knows that to compete at the top of the Premier League, the defense needs to be rock solid, and Guehi offers exactly that. However, Palace are playing hardball, turning down a second offer from Newcastle that was around £50 million. They value the player at around £65 million, according to Sky Sports, and don't intend to give in easily.
What makes this deal even more interesting is the time factor. Guehi is only 18 months away from being able to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs and two years away from leaving for free. This narrow window puts pressure on Crystal Palace, who need to decide whether it's worth keeping the player and running the risk of losing him without significant financial compensation, or whether it's better to secure a good sale now, while there's still room for negotiation. Newcastle, for their part, are aware of this situation and seem willing to use this as leverage to close the deal.
In addition, Newcastle face an internal scenario that makes this signing even more urgent. The Magpies' defense was widely criticized last season, with injuries to key players like Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles leaving the team vulnerable. Howe has already signaled that the defensive sector is the priority, with Emil Krafth being shifted to center-back in some games. Guehi's arrival would be a welcome relief, allowing Newcastle to finally have a complete and balanced defense.
But it's not just on the pitch that this deal could have an impact. The Premier League transfer market has been marked by inflated values and fierce competition for top talent. The fact that Newcastle are willing to invest heavily in Guehi shows that the club is not just interested in fighting for the top positions by having a more solid defense. With Eddie Howe at the helm, Newcastle have shown that they can build play from the back, as Guehi is a good passer, with an average pass rate of 94%, and can carry play into midfield.
Newcastle's move also sends a clear signal to the rest of the Premier League: the Magpies are here to stay, and they won't hesitate to spend to secure their place among the best. With the sale of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, the club needs to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, but it seems they are willing to find creative ways to do this without sacrificing the quality of the squad.
There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding this deal. Will Crystal Palace give in to the pressure and accept Newcastle's new offer? Or will they hold on to Guehi until the end of his contract, risking losing a large sum of money? And how will Newcastle react if the deal doesn't go through? One thing's for sure: the soap opera is far from over, and the next chapters promise a lot of excitement.