Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has issued a stern challenge to Newcastle United, urging them to stop their “fiddling and farting” and meet the full asking price for Marc Guehi. Jordan’s comments come as the Magpies have made several bids for the 24-year-old central defender, with the most recent offer reportedly valued at £45 million, including add-ons. Despite these attempts, an agreement has yet to be reached, particularly after Guehi led Crystal Palace as captain in their Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday.
Jordan, appearing on talkSPORT, has criticized Newcastle’s approach, suggesting that their incremental bids are insufficient to meet Palace’s expectations. “If Newcastle want to continue dithering and making offers in small increments, they may find themselves in a position where they end up paying the full valuation of £70 million by the end of the transfer window. If they are not prepared to meet that price, then they should simply walk away,” Jordan stated.
He emphasized that Crystal Palace’s asking price is grounded in recent transfer history, drawing a parallel with Chelsea’s £70 million purchase of Wesley Fofana from Leicester City two years ago. Jordan pointed out, “Marc Guehi is of a similar age to Fofana when he was sold, and the market for high-quality centre-backs is extremely competitive. Palace is entirely justified in setting a high price for Guehi, especially when you consider the transfer fees for players of comparable ability.”
Jordan further explained that Palace’s financial situation has been bolstered by the sale of Michael Olise, and with new manager Oliver Glasner at the helm, the club is focused on building a robust squad. “Palace has already secured funds from Olise’s transfer and has a strategic vision under their new manager. They have every right to push for a high price for Guehi, particularly if Newcastle is serious about acquiring one of the top centre-backs in English football,” Jordan argued.
He concluded by asserting that Newcastle’s ownership, given their substantial financial resources, should be willing to meet the asking price if they genuinely want to bring Guehi into their squad. “Newcastle’s current financial clout, given their ownership structure, should enable them to meet the demands set by Crystal Palace if they are truly committed to securing Guehi’s services,” Jordan added.
