Newcastle set to rival Chelsea for Premier League defender this summer | OneFootball

Newcastle Plot Summer Move for Crystal Palace Defender Amid Chelsea Competition

Sometimes, transfer speculation is loud and garish, plastered in banners and hashtags. Other times, it simmers gently in the margins — a player like Marc Guehi, quietly excellent, defiantly consistent, now the subject of a potential tug-of-war between Newcastle United and Chelsea.

According to GiveMeSport, Newcastle remain strongly interested in the Crystal Palace defender, having previously failed in four separate bids — all reportedly around the £70 million mark — last summer. With Eddie Howe’s side searching for a new centre-back and Guehi’s star continuing to rise, St James’ Park may come calling again.

Photo: IMAGO

Growing influence on and off the pitch

Guehi has become more than just a dependable presence for Palace. Since arriving in 2021, he’s grown into a leader, captaining the side and anchoring a defence that’s taken Palace to back-to-back FA Cup semi-finals. His consistency has also earned international recognition, with the 24-year-old now a regular name in England squads.

Photo: IMAGO

One source described him to GiveMeSport as a “superstar” — a word that suggests not just technical ability, but presence. Guehi doesn’t merely defend; he orchestrates.

Chelsea’s confidence and Newcastle’s ambition

While Chelsea believe they’re frontrunners — banking on their Cobham academy connection and his familiarity with the club — Newcastle offer something perhaps more valuable: a clear path to regular first-team football.

With Lloyd Kelly leaving for Juventus and long-standing defensive injuries hampering Howe’s tactical flexibility, there’s an urgency on Tyneside to secure a commanding centre-back. Guehi fits the bill.

Photo IMAGO

Champions League chase could tip the balance

The race for Champions League qualification could become a key deciding factor. Chelsea and Newcastle are neck-and-neck in the table, and whichever club claims the final European spot may also secure the defender. It’s not just a battle on the pitch anymore — it’s one for prestige, stability, and project clarity.

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Marc Guehi isn’t just another “potential” name from abroad — he’s a proven Premier League performer who fits perfectly into what Eddie Howe is building. Young, intelligent, composed under pressure, and a leader at just 24. He’s not a gamble — he’s a cornerstone.

Newcastle’s back line has been stretched this season. Injuries, inconsistency, and the departure of Lloyd Kelly have all exposed their lack of depth. Guehi isn’t just a luxury; he’s a necessity if Newcastle are serious about closing the gap on the top four.

Yes, Chelsea have the academy history. But Newcastle have got the opportunity. Guehi walks into this starting XI. He becomes part of something that’s growing, not rebuilding. And if Champions League football returns to St James’ Park? That could be the final nudge.