ThewolfOliver Glasner’s side made it clear from the first moment that Newcastle United would have to shatter their transfer record to lure the former Chelsea centre-back to St James’ Park.
And, after turning down two offers from the Tyneside outfit, Crystal Palace remain steadfast in that stance.
HITC can confirm that Newcastle have seen a second bid – worth just over £50 million – rejected. Palace want at least £65 million, meaning Eddie Howe’s team still well short of the desired fee.
A fee that would see Marc Guehi become the most expensive signing in Newcastle’s entire history. Currently, it is Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali – £60 million arrivals from Real Sociedad and AC Milan respectively – who share joint custody of such a tag.
Crystal Palace reject second Newcastle bid for Marc Guehi
Newcastle are continuing to push hard.
Their new sporting director Paul Mitchell has been driving the talks with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish and director Dougie Freedman, a man who has also been on The Magpies’ wishlist in recent times.
But while Guehi is open to the move – one that would allow him to play European football for the very first time – the Ivory Coast-born 24-year-old accepts Crystal Palace’s stance. He will not agitate to leave the club who handed him his chance in the Premier League.
Palace are, however, leaving nothing for chance. After already losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, the South London side are running the rule over potential replacements should Newcastle opt to meet their demands.
Among the options are Trevoh Chalobah – out of favour and up for sale at Chelsea – and Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix.
Lacroix has just one year left on his contract at the Bundesliga outfit. Like Daichi Kamada, the free signing from Lazio, he worked with Glasner in Germany.
The once £25 million-rated Lacroix has also admitted that he remains close with the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss, having spoken to him after Palace’s heroic 1-0 win over Liverpool in the spring.
Oliver Glasner could turn to Maxence Lacroix
“You have to consider all scenarios. Without wanting to blame anyone, it is never ideal when a player is entering the last year of his contract,” Wolfsburg managing director Peter Christiansen told Kicker of Lacroix this week. “But that is the situation.
“We are talking to Maxence. We would like to keep him. But the player and those around him also have their thoughts and ideas. And then, we will see what happens.
“We can show the players where we want to go with the club.”
Guehi, meanwhile, has been quietly excellent in England’s top flight for a while now, striking up a fine partnership with Joachim Andersen.
His stand-out displays at Euro 2024, however, served to take the one-time Swansea City loanee into the mainstream. Guehi was terrific as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions side came within touching distance of the trophy.
“He’s been exceptional,” Southgate said following the round-of-16 victory over Slovakia, via the Metro. “He is a young defender that we’ve had enormous belief in and he’s justified that with his performances in this tournament.”
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