Newcastle United are heading into transfer deadline day without making a major summer signing.
And a landmark deal now looks more unlikely than ever, following news that Newcastle are set to walk away from the Marc Guehi deal.
The Magpies have been struggling to agree a fee for the 24-year-old, with Newcastle United offering a package worth £70million in total. However, Crystal Palace want £75million for Guehi, which looks likely to be too much for Eddie Howe’s side.
Now the move appears to be off, which is a devastating blow for Newcastle United ahead of the transfer window closing on Friday at 11pm.
Toon officials are now in a race against time to do any other business – even if there is still the slight chance of the Guehi deal being revived.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace looks on during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Crystal Palace and Norwich City at Selhurst Park on August …
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Newcastle’s transfer deadline day plan
According to the Telegraph, Newcastle will still do a deal for Guehi on deadline day, but only if Crystal Palace go back on their current stance and decide to accept the Magpies’ most recent offer.
That feels unlikely, which could result in no other fresh faces joining Eddie Howe’s squad for the 2024/25 season.
The last player to sign for Newcastle was Will Osula, and that might remain the case now that the Guehi deal is more unlikely than ever.
However, the Telegraph add that Newcastle are going to continue looking for possible signings right up until the transfer window closes at 11pm on Friday.
They add that people within the Newcastle boardroom are calm, and will not make signings for the sake of it despite the lack of transfer activity.
READ MORE: Newcastle confirmed signings, departures, loans & released players in the summer transfer window 2024
Newcastle playing a sensible but dangerous game
Given the pressures of PSR, Newcastle do not want to make any mistakes in the transfer window.
They currently only want to sign players who strengthen the starting XI, which is not necessarily easy. They are are not going to panic buy or bring in stopgaps, as that would only hurt them down the line.
For instance, Axel Disasi is available to come in as a centre-back. However, he is not good enough to be Fabian Schar’s long-term successor at St James’ Park.
It is a similar approach to the one Newcastle took with Kalvin Phillips in January. They could have brought him in on loan, but decided it was not worth the financial hit. That proved to be the correct decision.
Now Newcastle will hope that the same stance serves them just as well this summer, even if they intend to stay open for business in case an opportunity comes up.
That puts Eddie Howe under real pressure, as he is once again going to have to extract every last ounce of ability out of a Newcastle United squad that was stretched beyond belief last season.
Howe has been let down by the hierarchy, and that must be remembered if he becomes under pressure this season.
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