Marc Guehi gives Newcastle United definitive answer - actions speak louder than £65m words

Black-and-white interest was ramped up on Sunday for a clash between two mid-table, London-based, Premier League clubs. Trips to the Quayside market and traditional roast dinners were placed on hold across Tyneside as Crystal Palace travelled across the capital to face Brentford. 

All that was down to Marc Guehi - the Palace captain thrown firmly into the Newcastle United spotlight. Making a first competitive appearance since the Euro 2024 final and, with the Eagles’ armband wrapped firmly around his bicep, eyes were fixated on the 24-year-old amid recent speculation.

But it took just 29 minutes for the St James’ Park hierarchy to start questioning their transfer blueprint.

Because when Bryan Mbeumo ripped Guehi apart, cutting inside from the right flank before whizzing the opening strike past Dean Henderson, a collective concern echoed around Newcastle: is Guehi really worth £65million?

That is the figure Palace chiefs reportedly told Newcastle to stump up for Guehi before moving the goalposts again. A penny for the defender’s thoughts as he picked himself up off his backside in West London. Had the speculation affected him? 

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Many were left wondering whether the Magpies would be better off placing the £65million on Mbeumo given the right-wing conundrum. Another wince reverberated around the St James’ Park boadroom when Guehi almost saw red for a rash lunge on Mads Roerslev.

This was either a one-off game - or Guehi is not worth the extortionate transfer fee demanded. 

That is not to write the Palace man off. After all, he was one of the standout performers for England in Germany. But have it right, Guehi played for a Three Lions outfit bereft of world-class options in defence.

This was hardly John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Ledley King or even Jamie Carragher - the era many grew up watching - standing in his way to partner John Stones. Guehi is good, but not worthy of Newcastle emptying the clip and leaving them short elsewhere - namely right-wing.

His contract has two years left to run and it would be prudent for Toon chiefs to keep their powder dry and send Palace into panic next summer. Do that, and they might just land upon a more reasonable transfer fee.