Newcastle United have already identified two January targets ahead of the next transfer season.
After a mainly unsuccessful summer window, sporting director Paul Mitchell will take a more hands-on role in January. One of his priorities is expected to resume the chase of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Mitchell was unable to strike an agreement with Palace during the last month of the transfer season, as the South London club demanded sums exceeding £70 million for the English international.
Newcastle’s final proposal for Guehi, rumoured to be £55 million (according to Mail Online), was made weeks before the deadline. However, the club continued to negotiate until late August, considering possible add-ons.
However, Palace and chairman Steve Parish were unconvinced by Newcastle’s offer and decided to keep the 24-year-old, who has less than two years remaining on his contract. According to sources, the decision to reject Newcastle’s hefty offer for Guehi has created some stress within the Palace management.
Newcastle will put Palace’s commitment to the test in January, sensing the strain and the possibility of a reduced cost. At that point, the defender will have less than 18 months left on his contract at Selhurst Park, and it may be the last time Palace can demand a substantial fee for the player unless they agree to a new contract.
In addition to Guehi, Newcastle has targeted 17-year-old Dinamo Tbilisi attacker Vakhtang Salia as a January signing. The Magpies plan to finalise the deal in the next transfer window, but Salia is scheduled to stay at Dinamo Tbilisi until joining Newcastle in July 2025.
Salia, 17, has already made 30 first-team appearances for Georgia, primarily on the left or as a striker. He has four goals and two assists and has been compared to Napoli forward and former Dinamo Tbilisi youth prospect Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
He’s on the opposite end of Newcastle’s transfer spectrum, but he might be a valuable addition in the coming years as the club battles Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
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