A surprise Chelsea star has reportedly emerged as a target for Newcastle United if their pursuit of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace falls through.
Newcastle identified Guehi as their top defensive target this summer after his impressive performances at Euro 2024. However, securing the England international from Selhurst Park has proven difficult, with the Magpies having four bids rejected by the Eagles.
The latest offer, valued at up to £65 million, was turned down as Palace remains firm on their £70 million valuation of the 24-year-old.
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Newcastle’s hopes of signing Guehi took another hit with the news that fellow Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen is moving to Fulham for £30 million. It’s highly unlikely that Oliver Glasner would be willing to lose both of his best defenders in such a short period, especially given the importance of their partnership since their arrival in 2021.
Considering these developments, The Athletic reports that Newcastle has intensified their search for an alternative centre-back, with Chelsea’s Axel Disasi attracting significant interest.
The French international joined Chelsea from Monaco last summer in a deal worth over £38 million and is under contract until 2029. Capable of playing right-back, the 26-year-old was a key player for Mauricio Pochettino, making 44 appearances in his debut season. However, he has yet to feature for Enzo Maresca after missing pre-season due to a hernia operation.
Disasi was not included in the squad for the opening weekend defeat to Manchester City, and with Chelsea’s ongoing transfer activity, it’s possible he could be sold before the transfer deadline in just over a week.
Additionally, Newcastle has reportedly contacted Bayer Leverkusen regarding their centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, who has been linked with clubs like Tottenham, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea in recent years.