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Newcastle United emerge as contenders for Marc Guehi, Goncalo Inacio?

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 04 July 2023

Newcastle emerge as contenders for Guehi, Inacio?

Newcastle United reportedly identify Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi and Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio as potential targets this summer.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing central defenders Marc Guehi and Goncalo Inacio from Crystal Palace and Sporting Lisbon respectively.

Head coach Eddie Howe is keen to strengthen the depth of his squad ahead of the club's first season in the Champions League for 20 years.

The Magpies completed the signing of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan on Monday, with the 23-year-old moving to St James' Park in a deal worth around £60.2m.

Newcastle are now thought to be targeting defensive reinforcements as captain Jamaal Lascelles is believed to be facing an uncertain future at the club with just one year remaining on his contract.

Lascelles, 29, has spent the last nine years in the North-East but he started just two Premier League games last season, with both Sven Botman and Fabian Schar preferred ahead of him by Howe.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe reacts on May 13, 2023 © Reuters

The only other centre-back option in Howe's first-team squad is Dan Burn, but he established himself as a first-choice left-back last season, playing on the left side of a back four in 39 of his 44 appearances.

According to Football Insider, Palace star Guehi has been identified as a potential summer target for Newcastle, who are also exploring a move for Sporting's Inacio.

The Magpies may hit a stumbling block in their pursuit of Guehi, though, as Palace are said to have placed a £60m valuation on the 22-year-old.

The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in Guehi, who is under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2026.

Guehi has established himself as a key player for the Eagles since joining the club from Chelsea for around £20m in 2021, making 82 appearances across all competitions, including 37 Premier League starts last season.

The centre-back has also featured regularly in Gareth Southgate's England squad and earned his fourth senior cap in last month's 4-0 win over Malta in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio on March 16, 2023 © Reuters

Inacio, meanwhile, made his international debut for Portugal in March before earning his second cap as a substitute in a 1-0 away win over Iceland last month – setting up Cristiano Ronaldo for a record-breaking match-winner.

The 21-year-old, who is understood to 'fit the profile' of the type of player that Newcastle are after, is regarded as one of Portugal's brightest prospects having developed into an invaluable first-team regular for Sporting over the last two years, featuring 112 times in all tournaments.

Inacio scored four goals and set up three more in 52 games for Sporting last season, starting 26 Primeira Liga matches as well as featuring six times each in the Champions League group stage and Europa League knockout rounds, and he is under contract in Lisbon until 2026.

Newcastle are not the only club keeping tabs on Inacio, though, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United are also believed to be interested in the defender, who has a €45m (£38.6m) release clause in his contract.