I would be happy with Marc Guehi, even if it meant no new wingers or that top striker

Less than a fortnight now before Newcastle United kick off their Premier League campaign.

On Friday, we saw the breaking news of Newcastle trying to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

Reading through the comments on The Mag reacting to this potential signing, the majority seemed very happy if such a deal could be pulled off.

A few questioned the likely fee as maybe a bit high, whilst others suggested that with a rumoured remaining summer budget of £100m or less, that maybe Newcastle United shouldn’t be looking to spend so much of it on Marc Guehi.

Personally, I’d be more than happy if we signed Marc Guehi and added the young Will Osula to our squad. Then waited on potentially selling a few players deemed dispensable, before looking at recruitment again.

A lot of people are desperate for a striker and I understand the reasons why.

Callum Wilson has a major problem keeping fit and available over a majority of a season. His ability has never been in question and when fit and available, he’s delivered time and time again. While it’s frustrating knowing something will go wrong with him at some point, nonetheless he’s still a very good striker to have on the books. It’s difficult to make a case for it being worthwhile selling him, due to his age and well-documented injury record making it very unlikely that any club will pay over the odds for him. For Newcastle United, it would cost a lot more than the reported £15m (£10m plus £5m potential future add-ons) or so on Will Osula, to replace Callum Wilson adequately.

Anyway, back to Marc Guehi and what I said about me being happy enough if Newcastle United spent most of their budget on him.

In my book, the Newcastle United defence needs a lot more addressing than our forward areas. Last season, Newcastle United managed 15 clean sheets in all competitions from 51 matches. We also conceded 73 goals in all.

Our defence also isn’t getting any younger . In the next few years, realistically speaking we will likely only have Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Sven Botman,Lloyd Kelly and potentially Alex Murphy (if he’s good enough to make the grade), so 100% we need defenders to replace our older players like Trippier, Schar, Burn, Krafth and Lascelles.

We don’t have an issue scoring goals, Newcastle United scored over 100 last season in all competitions, something that never happened even under Kevin Keegan’s entertainers. So while a top striker would be great of course, a top defender is needed far more. I’d be happy enough too with Marc Guehi, even if it meant no new wingers or that top striker. You don’t get anywhere without a good defence and goalkeeper.

I have looked back at our record under Eddie Howe when Newcastle United have played without Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. A total of 30 matches, winning 15 of them, drawing 7 and losing 8. Considering Chris Wood role in the team wasn’t primarily as a poacher or goal getter, plus others stepping up like Allan Saint-Maximin, Anthony Gordon and Joelinton on the odd occasion when there was nobody else, that’s a more than respectable return.

I also looked at results with no recognised centre forward whatsoever starting and this was our total record:

Newcastle 0 Cambridge 1 (Allan Saint-Maximin was up top)

Norwich 0 Newcastle 3 (Joelinton up top)

Newcastle 0 Liverpool 1 (Joelinton up top)

Man U 0 Newcastle 3 (Gordon up top)

Bournemouth 2 Newcastle 0 (Gordon up top)

Newcastle 2 Bournemouth 2 (Gordon up top)

Newcastle 4 Luton 4 (Gordon up top)

So in  seven matches there were still 12 goals there.

The problems when it came to conceding goals, came from issues further back down the pitch and so many players missing so many matches was a large part of that. So adding Marc Guehi to the likes of Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sandro Tonali and Nick Pope, can rectify a lot of our flaws from last season .

Is Marc Guehi worth £60m or so? In today’s market, yes.

People need to accept that the game has changed and spending £35m or so on the likes of Botman and Bruno back in 2022, isn’t really a lot of money anymore on players.

It’s ridiculous the market but it is what is. Virgil van Dijk £75m six years ago, Harry Maguire £80m five years ago. So is Marc Guehi worth 60m in the present? Absolutely.

Plus, was Virgil van Dijk a better defender at Southampton than Guehi has shown at Crystal Palace, or most recently at the Euros? No way.

Marc Guehi would be worth every penny in my opinion.

Comments welcome.