Gary Lineker’s quip about Newcastle’s failed attempt to sign England star Marc Guehi even left fellow pundit Alan Shearer laughing.
The Magpies struggled to make a splash in the summer transfer market, signing just five players. English defensive pair Lewis Hall – whose loan move from Chelsea was made permanent for £28million – and free agent Lloyd Kelly are the only summer recruits to have made Premier League appearances so far.
A lot of the club’s attention, once the profit and sustainability rules deadline had passed, was focused on Crystal Palace captain Guehi – who Newcastle believed would solve their centre-half woes. However, the two parties couldn’t quite reach an agreement on their valuations, despite Eddie Howe’s side offering a reported £65m plus £5m add-ons deal, and the move collapsed.
Shearer’s beloved club suffering such embarrassment after being rebuked by Palace over Guehi was too much to bear for the 54-year-old’s colleague Lineker, who just had to take a jibe after England’s 2-0 win over Ireland, in which Guehi impressed once again off the back of a stellar tournament at Euro 2024.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast about Guehi’s performance after the Three Lions’ 2-0 UEFA Nations League victory, Lineker teased: “I thought Marc Guehi looked very impressive again. I just wonder, Alan, why Newcastle didn’t go for him in the summer?”
After a spell of laughter, Shearer replied: “He looked good, didn’t he? I thought his passing was really good. You know when you’re fizzing it into the middle and having to get through and break the line.
“I thought some of his passing was superb. He didn’t have to defend too much, but then you’re on the ball and with possession, you need someone like that.”
Guehi is now an England regular after he impressed at Euro 2024 (
Getty Images)
Despite a solid start to the season, taking seven points from a possible nine – including a notable 2-1 win over Tottenham last time out – Shearer’s old side are undoubtedly short-staffed at the back.
