Newcastle are likely to revisit their pursuit of Marc Guehi in January, with the expectation that Crystal Palace will be more willing to sell.
Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell was said to be furious with Palace chairman Steve Parish amid protracted negotiations in the summer.
Sources insist Newcastle’s official offer never went higher than £55million, but conversations continued until the final week of the window with figures in excess of £65m discussed.
Parish was said to have enjoyed stringing the Magpies along, on the back of their failed attempt to take his sporting director Dougie Freedman at the end of last season.
However, sources say that other members of Palace’s ownership group saw the business sense in selling Guehi, given he is approaching the final 18 months of his contract.
Newcastle are likely to revisit their pursuit of Marc Guehi in January after missing out in the summer transfer window
Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell was said to be furious with Palace chairman Steve Parish over the negotiations
Other members of Palace’s ownership group saw the business sense in selling defender Guehi
We understand an approach close to Newcastle’s initial valuation of around £50m would probably see progress made in the new year. If so, sources say, it would have to happen early in the window, given Palace’s need to strengthen their squad elsewhere.
Crucially, in the context of Guehi being sold, Palace centre back Chadi Riad is expected to return from a knee injury in December. His injury in August was thought to be one of the key reasons Palace did not sell England defender Guehi.
There is other interest in the 24-year-old, from Liverpool and Manchester City, but they would be more minded to make a move next summer. Juventus are also keen and have just lost defender Gleison Bremer to a serious knee injury, but there are doubts as to whether they could afford Palace’s asking price.
As a result, there is a feeling that Newcastle would again be the only bidders if making a move in January.
Toon grow with new shrink
Newcastle are hiring a psychologist who will be asked to provide psychological and behavioural assessments of prospective signings.
The new employee will become a key component of the club’s recruitment process and this, for me, is a move that should be applauded and is long overdue. To tell you why, I will share a story.
It was the summer of 2015 and I was in Brussels to write a background report on Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was in the process of joining the Magpies from Anderlecht. The subsequent headline in the Daily Mail read: ‘Newcastle’s new striker is a five-year-old trapped in a monster’s body.’
The club were furious – they thought it was mischief-making – and it was said that a senior official slapped the newspaper down on a desk at the training ground.
Within 16 minutes of his full home debut, Mitrovic had been sent off. His season finished with an equally reckless dismissal and a four-match ban. It would appear that, through conversations with those on the ground at his former club, I had known a little more about the type of character Newcastle were signing than the club did.
Character references, of course, are part of the game, and Eddie Howe and his staff do their utmost to know everything about a player away from the football pitch. But the arrival of a specially trained psychologist who will provide detailed reports on the person behind the player is a smart move. The same employee will also be responsible for a wellbeing support plan for new signings and providing psychological support to loan players.
Newcastle are hiring a psychologist who will be asked to provide assessments of prospective signings – a contrast to when they signed Aleksandar Mitrovic
Eddie Howe assesses players off the pitch but a specially trained psychologist will be joining
And another one…
There is another new hire on the way that could prove significant from a PSR perspective, with the club bringing in a marketing executive to help manage and develop commercial partnerships for Newcastle United Women.
Generating revenue across all avenues is the best way to push back the boundaries of PSR, and income associated with the women’s team is included. Crucially, however, investment in the women’s team can be deducted from expenditure.
Newcastle’s team are on the rise and, after back-to-back promotions, are now in the Championship. Promotion to the Premier League would open up many more commercial opportunities.
Ant’s England bonus
Anthony Gordon was never likely to miss last Saturday’s penalty against Manchester City – because he had been practising them all summer with England!
I was there in Germany covering the national team and Gordon, given his likelihood to be one of those on the pitch at the end of extra-time, was said to be taking spot-kicks every day at their Blankenhain base.
That showed in the manner in which he gathered himself and waited the optimum time after the referee’s whistle before dispatching his penalty, a technique drilled into England’s players by the psychology gurus.
Indeed, if Newcastle find themselves in a penalty shootout this season, it probably makes sense for Gordon and Kieran Trippier to be the first men up.
Anthony Gordon was confident when taking his penalty against Manchester City last weekend because he had been practicing them all summer
The England forward netted from the spot and had been taking penalties regularly in training while away with England at Euro 2024
Gordon showed a technique that had been drilled into Three Lions players by psychology gurus
Isak set to miss out, again
On the subject of Anthony Gordon and goals, he will again be deployed as a striker at former club Everton on Saturday.
Newcastle Confidential broke the news two weeks ago of Alexander Isak’s toe injury and that has proved to be very significant, with the Swede missing the last two matches and now almost certain to be out of the game at Goodison Park.
Interestingly, Eddie Howe refers to Gordon as Newcastle’s third-choice striker, and that gives an indication of the work still needed before Will Osula is considered ready for Premier League football.
We got our first glimpse of Osula from the off during Tuesday’s 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup. The 21-year-old – signed from Sheffield United for £10m in the summer – did OK, and it was telling when Howe was asked afterwards if signing players of Osula’s profile was the way forward. The manager treated the question respectfully, but the pause before answering was perhaps telling – Howe wants players who are ready for his first team.
Alexnder Isak (pictured) is set to miss this weekend’s game against Everton, and Gordon may play up front against his former side
Boss blast inspires response
Staying with Anthony Gordon, last week’s ‘home truths’ which were aired at the training ground on the back of the 3-1 defeat at Fulham were said to include some strong words from Eddie Howe towards his winger.
Gordon accepted his performance at Craven Cottage was not close to his usual standards and it is thought some tweaks were made to his training routine. The upshot was a brilliant display in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
We also broke the exclusive news last week that Gordon is set to sign a new contract at St James’ Park, and Howe duly confirmed an agreement is close.
Trouble at the turnstiles
Some anecdotal evidence from supporters provided to this column suggests entry to St James’ Park for the game against AFC Wimbledon this week was not easy.
Long queues formed in the build-up to kick-off and a fair few missed the start of the game. The issue was said to concern Android phones and ticket access at the turnstiles, with some season-ticket holders not realising they had to download cup tickets separately.
Something for the club to consider when Chelsea visit St James’ in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup later this month.
Matty meets Messi
Finally, this column broke the news of Matty Longstaff signing for Toronto FC earlier this year, and it’s been great to see the Geordie midfielder flourishing in MLS after a torrid time with injuries.
This weekend, the 24-year-old will be taking on Inter Miami and, for the first time, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets…
Geordie midfielder Matty Longstaff has been flourishing in the MLS after a torrid time with injuries
This weekend he will take on an Inter Miami side that could contain the likes of Lionel Messi (left) and Luis Suarez (right)
Toon Teaser
Last week’s puzzler was… can you name the SIXTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Manchester City since 1992-93? The answer: Joey Barton, Peter Beardsley, Craig Bellamy, Laurent Charvet, Andy Cole, Sylvain Distin, Shay Given, Dietmar Hamann, Steve Howey, Darren Huckerby, Stephen Ireland, James Milner, Stuart Pearce, Ray Ranson, Antoine Sibierski, Tommy Wright.
On a similar theme, this week’s question is – can you name the FOURTEEN players to have appeared for Newcastle and Everton since 1992-93?