Newcastle United is gearing up to make another run at signing Marc Guehi this January.
The expectation is that Crystal Palace will be more open to negotiations at that time.
After a tense summer filled with negotiations, Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell was reportedly quite frustrated with Palace chairman Steve Parish.
The Magpies had made an official offer, but it never exceeded £55 million, even though discussions continued until the last week of the transfer window, with figures over £65 million being tossed around.
It seems Parish enjoyed dragging Newcastle through the negotiation process, especially after the club’s failed attempt to lure away his sporting director, Dougie Freedman, at the end of the previous season.
However, other stakeholders at Palace recognized the wisdom in selling Guehi, especially since his contract is winding down and will only have 18 months left by January.
If Newcastle were to approach Palace with an offer close to their initial valuation of around £50 million, it’s likely the deal could progress.
They would need to act quickly in the new year, though, as Palace is looking to bolster their squad elsewhere.
Injury Updates Impacting Transfer Plans
A key factor in whether Guehi gets sold is the return of Palace center back Chadi Riad, who is expected back from a knee injury in December.
His injury earlier this season played a significant role in Palace’s decision not to let Guehi go at that time.
There’s also competition for Guehi’s signature, with Liverpool and Manchester City interested, but they’re more inclined to make their moves in the summer.
Juventus has also expressed interest, particularly after losing defender Gleison Bremer to a serious knee injury, but they might struggle to meet Palace’s asking price.
Consequently, Newcastle could be in a strong position as the primary bidders if they act in January.
Smart Moves in Recruitment Strategy
In a noteworthy development, Newcastle has decided to bring a psychologist on board to assist with assessing the mental and behavioral aspects of potential signings.
This new addition will play a vital role in the club’s recruitment strategy, and it’s a change that many see as overdue.
Reflecting on a past experience, I recall a summer in 2015 when I was in Brussels covering Aleksandar Mitrovic’s signing.
The subsequent newspaper headline read, “Newcastle’s new striker is a five-year-old trapped in a monster’s body.”
The club was outraged, believing it was mischief-making, especially since Mitrovic received a red card within minutes of his home debut and faced a lengthy ban later that season.
This highlights the importance of character assessments when recruiting players.
While Eddie Howe and his staff make every effort to understand a player’s background, having a trained psychologist to provide insights into the personality behind the player is a smart and strategic move.
This professional will also focus on creating a wellbeing support plan for new signings and offer psychological assistance to loan players.
Building Revenue with Women’s Team
In addition to hiring a psychologist, Newcastle is set to bring in a marketing executive to boost commercial partnerships for Newcastle United Women.
Generating revenue across all avenues is crucial for the club’s growth, and that includes income from the women’s team, which can be deducted from overall expenditure.
With the women’s team enjoying a rise in prominence and having secured back-to-back promotions to the Championship, the potential for increased commercial opportunities is substantial if they ascend to the Premier League.
Anthony Gordon’s Penalty Prowess
Anthony Gordon showcased his penalty-taking skills in the match against Manchester City, and it’s no surprise considering he spent the summer practicing with the England squad.
I was in Germany during the national team’s preparations, where Gordon practiced spot-kicks daily in anticipation of his potential role in penalty situations.
His calmness in converting the penalty reflects the mental techniques drilled into the players by their psychology coaches.
If Newcastle finds themselves in a penalty shootout this season, Gordon and Kieran Trippier are likely to be the go-to players.
Striker Situation for Upcoming Match
Gordon is set to step up as a striker again against his former club, Everton, this Saturday.
Following the news we shared a couple of weeks ago about Alexander Isak’s toe injury, it’s evident that his absence is significant.
He has missed the last two matches and is highly unlikely to feature against Everton.
Interestingly, Eddie Howe has labeled Gordon as Newcastle’s third-choice striker, indicating there’s still work to be done before considering Will Osula ready for Premier League action.
We recently got a glimpse of Osula during a 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, and while he did okay, Howe’s pause when discussing signing players like him suggests the need for players more suited to his first-team plans.
Eddie Howe’s Tough Love Sparks Improvement
Last week, Eddie Howe delivered some candid feedback to Anthony Gordon after the team’s disappointing performance in the 3-1 loss to Fulham.
Gordon acknowledged that he didn’t meet his usual standards, leading to adjustments in his training regimen.
The result was a standout performance in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
We also reported last week that Gordon is on the verge of signing a new contract at St James’ Park, and Howe confirmed that an agreement is close.
Turnstile Troubles for Supporters
Supporters faced some challenges entering St James’ Park for the AFC Wimbledon match this week.
Long queues formed, causing some fans to miss the start of the game.
The issues reportedly stemmed from Android phone users struggling with ticket access at the turnstiles, as some season ticket holders were unaware they needed to download cup tickets separately.
This is something the club will need to address before Chelsea’s upcoming visit for the Carabao Cup.
Matty Longstaff’s Exciting New Chapter
Finally, it’s exciting to see Matty Longstaff thriving in Major League Soccer after his move to Toronto FC earlier this year.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who had been plagued by injuries, is set to face off against Inter Miami this weekend.
For the first time, he’ll be up against stars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets. It’s certainly a moment to look forward to!
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