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Some doubted whether Marc Guehi would be able to make the step up at Euro 2024. Jarrad Branthwaite was left at home when many believed the Everton defender should have been included in Gareth Southgate’s squad. Southgate, however, had full faith in Guehi to be a key figure for England and that faith was well-placed.
Guehi was one of England’s best performers at Euro 2024. The 24-year-old demonstrated his ability at the elite level and Newcastle United were seemingly watching with the Magpies now reportedly keen to sign Guehi. It is claimed they are willing to spend up to £60m to land the Crystal Palace centre back.
This would be smart business by Newcastle. Last season was undermined by injuries to key defensive figures including Sven Botman and Nick Pope and so the addition of Guehi would bring extra strength to the Magpies’ backline. Had Guehi been a Newcastle player last term, Eddie Howe’s team might have finished closer to the top four.
There are few Premier League centre backs on Guehi’s level. He is accomplished in all areas of the game and is the sort of defensive presence Newcastle United will be able to build around for years to come. £60m would be a lot of money, but Guehi has shown for club and country that he would be worth that sort of outlay.
Newcastle’s best business this summer might be holding on to their best attacking players. Alexander Isak was strongly linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, but the Swedish centre forward appears set to stay at St James’ Park for at least another season, meanwhile Anthony Gordon is another still at the club after interest from Liverpool.
Bruno Guimaraes is another player who has been linked with a move away from Newcastle United. For the time being, though, the Brazilian midfielder is staying put to give the Magpies the opportunity build some continuity after a 2023/24 season which saw them take a step backwards in their development.
This summer transfer window has been a challenging one for Newcastle. The club had to get creative to meet the Premier League’s PSR for last season and is still restricted in what it can spend in the transfer market. On top of this, Dan Ashworth’s departure for Manchester United left a void in the front office at St James’ Park.
Former Tottenham Hotspur transfers chief Paul Mitchell has arrived to replace Ashworth as Newcastle’s new sporting director, but he has barely had time to get his feet under the desk. Amanda Stavely and Mehrdad Ghodoussi also left St James Park earlier this summer, leaving a void at the executive level of the club.
On top of all this, questions have also been asked of Eddie Howe as Newcastle manager with the 46-year-old one of the names most strongly linked with the England vacancy. Howe himself has publicly talked about the uncertainty at the club, but has also called his commitment to Newcastle “unwavering.” Nonetheless, there is a sense he might entertain an approach from the FA.
Competition at the top of the Premier League has never been stiffer. Manchester City have set a new standard by winning six of the last seven titles, but Arsenal and Liverpool are also expected to be competitive this season with Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs all aiming for improvement. Newcastle could be squeezed out.
However, the signing of Guehi would help point Newcastle in the right direction. He is a player with his best years ahead of him and would surely do a lot to restore the Magpies as one of the best defensive units in the Premier League. Guehi showed at Euro 2024 that he is ready for the step up at club level.
