Newcastle United have prioritised signing a new defender in the summer transfer window and they are close to securing a deal for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.
The 24-year-old has been one of Palace’s key players and impressed heavily for England during the 2024 Euro Championships in Germany.
According to a report from The Telegraph, the Magpies are close to agreeing a deal for Guehi for a fee well in excess of £60 million.
The defender is very keen to join St James’ Park and he has urged his agents to make the deal happen.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Crystal Palace want £65 million for Guehi, and talks are advancing between the two clubs very well. It is likely to be concluded by the end of this week.
Agreeing personal terms with the defender will not be a problem, and the signing could be a huge coup for Newcastle, given how his stock has risen following an excellent campaign.
Crystal Palace have already sold Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, and they are about to lose another top player, although it was expected that Guehi would leave at some point this summer.
Newcastle have signed Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer but Guehi would be a massive signing for the Magpies. His best years are ahead of him, and Newcastle will have a player who can genuinely make them a strong side.
Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Guehi, but the Reds have not made any bid yet. That does not mean they cannot make a late attempt and hijack the deal, so the Magpies should look to get it done as soon as possible.
While losing him would be a huge blow for Palace, they are getting a high transfer fee for a player which they can invest in rebuilding the squad.
Newcastle still need a right-sided attacking player this summer, but whether they will have the funds after the Guehi deal remains to be seen.
