Newcastle United continue to find themselves in a race against time as they scramble to finalize the transfer of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Despite their persistent efforts, it appears that Crystal Palace is poised to reject Newcastle’s latest bid, pushing the transfer saga into yet another uncertain chapter.
The situation took a twist when news emerged that Crystal Palace had unexpectedly raised their asking price for the talented defender to over £70 million. This came after Newcastle tabled a bid valued at £65 million, inclusive of add-ons—a figure that many believed would seal the deal. However, according to reports from *The Telegraph*, Palace’s sudden increase in valuation has thrown a wrench into Newcastle’s plans.
The sticking point in the negotiations seems to revolve around a specific clause that Newcastle included in their offer. This clause, which hinges on the Magpies qualifying for the Champions League, has not been well-received by Palace. Despite Newcastle’s recent success in securing Champions League football under their new ownership, their failure to qualify for any European competition last season—due to a combination of injury woes and the demands of a congested fixture schedule—has made Palace wary of agreeing to such a conditional payment.
Given their concerns, it’s understandable that Palace is hesitant to accept any deal that relies on Newcastle’s future success in Europe. From their perspective, they want to secure every penny upfront, without leaving their financial returns contingent on Newcastle’s unpredictable fortunes in the Champions League. After all, while Marc Guehi’s addition to the squad would undoubtedly bolster Newcastle’s chances of returning to Europe’s elite competition, it’s far from a certainty.
Despite the latest setback, there remains a glimmer of hope that a deal can still be reached. If the Champions League clause is indeed the primary obstacle rather than a disagreement over the total valuation, then there might be room for negotiation. Crystal Palace’s reluctance is rooted in a desire for certainty, and with the right adjustments, Newcastle could still convince them to part with their star defender.
As the dust settles from the latest round of negotiations, optimism is slowly creeping back into the hearts of Newcastle fans and pundits alike. The belief that a deal can be struck is starting to resurface, especially if Newcastle can find a way to meet Palace’s demands. The final hurdle now seems to be whether Marc Guehi can stay fit during Palace’s upcoming match on Sunday, as an untimely injury could derail the transfer altogether—a scenario that would be all too familiar for Newcastle supporters who have witnessed their fair share of bad luck in recent times.
