Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell reportedly held a face-to-face meeting with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to discuss signing Marc Guehi. Despite Mitchell’s efforts to negotiate a deal in the final weeks of the summer transfer window, the two sides could not agree on a price, with Palace demanding over £75 million. Mitchell had traveled to London in mid-August after manager Eddie Howe identified Guehi as his top centre-back target.
According to Mail Sport, the meeting lasted four hours and left Parish more resolute in resisting Newcastle’s pursuit. Parish reportedly saw Newcastle’s focus on Guehi as a negotiating tactic to justify their high asking price. Additionally, Palace was aware of the internal changes at Newcastle, including Mitchell’s arrival and increased responsibilities for CEO Darren Eales following the exits of Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
Throughout the transfer saga, Parish gave numerous interviews, while Howe and Mitchell have declined to comment on Guehi individually. Mitchell stated, “It would have been easier to make high-profile signings, but that would compromise Newcastle’s long-term growth and strategic goals. My role is to balance short, medium, and long-term objectives.”
He further explained, “We aim to set a precedent by paying fair value for the right players. This approach reflects the modern game’s realities, not a lack of ambition.”
