This summer, things haven’t gone exactly to plan for Newcastle United. The team, also known as “The Magpies,” has tried to sign some big-name players, but they’ve had a tough time competing with the Premier League’s top clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Now, they’ve set their sights on someone new — Marc Guehi, the captain of Crystal Palace and one of the best young defenders in England. According to The Times, Newcastle are preparing to make a £40 million bid (that’s around $51 million!) to bring Guehi to their team. But there’s a problem: Crystal Palace wants £50 million, not £40 million. That’s a big difference, especially when other big teams are also interested in the same player.
So who is Marc Guehi, and why do so many top teams want him? Let’s dive into the story!
Who is Marc Guehi?
Marc Guehi (pronounced “Gay-hee”) is a 25-year-old soccer player who plays as a center-back, which means he’s one of the main defenders in a team. His job is to stop opposing players, especially strikers, from scoring goals. Think of him as a wall in front of the goalkeeper!
Guehi was born in the Ivory Coast but moved to England when he was young. He started his professional career at Chelsea FC, one of the biggest clubs in Europe. While he didn’t get many chances to play for Chelsea’s first team, he impressed everyone when he went on loan to Swansea City in the Championship (that’s the second tier of English football). After two great seasons there, Crystal Palace signed him in 2021.
Since joining Palace, Guehi has become one of the best defenders in the Premier League. He’s strong, fast, and great at reading the game. In fact, he’s so good that he even got picked to play for the England national team. He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2024 and helped England reach the final!
Why Newcastle Want Him
Newcastle United finished 7th in the Premier League last season and are hoping to do even better next year. They want to compete for the top 4 spots, which would earn them a place in the Champions League, the biggest club competition in Europe.
To do that, they need top players — especially in defense. Last season, they struggled with injuries and gave up too many goals. Signing someone like Guehi could help fix that.
But it’s not going to be easy.
Missed Targets: A Tough Summer for Newcastle
So far, Newcastle haven’t had the best luck in the summer transfer market. They tried to sign:
Joao Pedro, a talented striker from Brighton, but he chose to join Chelsea.
Liam Delap, a young English forward from Manchester City, who also went to Chelsea.
Hugo Ekitike, a forward from France, who picked Liverpool instead of Newcastle.
That’s three talented players they missed out on!
It shows how hard it can be to attract top players when you’re competing against clubs that regularly win trophies and play in Europe every year. Newcastle are still building their reputation — even though they’re backed by wealthy owners and have great fans.
£40 Million Bid – But Will That Be Enough?
Now, Newcastle are turning back to Guehi — someone they’ve been interested in before. They’re preparing to offer £40 million, but Crystal Palace are asking for £50 million. That’s a £10 million gap, and in the world of transfers, that’s a lot of money.
What makes things more interesting is that Guehi only has one year left on his contract at Crystal Palace. That means if Palace don’t sell him now, they risk losing him for free next summer — unless he signs a new contract, which seems unlikely.
So Newcastle might be hoping Palace lower their price. But with teams like Chelsea and Liverpool also watching closely, Palace might hold firm.
Soccer Fact Break: How Do Transfers Work?
In professional soccer, players have contracts that last a certain number of years. When a club wants to buy a player who’s still under contract, they must pay a transfer fee to the club that owns the player’s contract. This fee depends on the player’s age, talent, contract length, and more.
If a player only has one year left on their contract, their current club has to decide: sell them now for a fee or risk losing them for free when their contract ends.
Why Would Guehi Leave?
Even though Crystal Palace is a great club with loyal fans, players often want to move to teams that play in bigger competitions like the Champions League or Europa League.
Newcastle might offer Guehi:
A higher salary
A chance to play in European competitions
A bigger stage to prove himself — especially if he wants to be a regular starter for England
But remember, Chelsea (his former club) and Liverpool are also interested. That could make things tricky for Newcastle.
What Happens Next?
Newcastle are expected to make their offer very soon. Palace will then decide if they want to accept the £40 million or ask for more. If the deal goes through, it would be one of Newcastle’s biggest transfers of the summer.
If not, they’ll have to look for another defender — and they’re running out of time. The Premier League season starts on August 16, so the clock is ticking!
Quick Timeline:
2021: Guehi joins Crystal Palace from Chelsea for £18 million.
2023: Becomes Crystal Palace captain at just 23 years old.
2024: Helps England reach the Euro final.
Now (2025): Newcastle want to sign him for £40 million.
Did You Know?
The Premier League is watched by over 4.7 billion people worldwide!
The most expensive defender in history is Harry Maguire, who moved to Manchester United for £80 million in 2019.
Guehi has made over 100 appearances for Crystal Palace.
Final Thoughts
Marc Guehi is a talented young defender who’s about to make a big decision about his future. Newcastle want him badly, but they’ll have to pay the right price — and act fast before someone else does!
Will he wear the black-and-white stripes of Newcastle, or end up somewhere else? We’ll soon find out!
