Newcastle should have been more flexible when identifying targets in the summer transfer window, according to NewcastleWorld reporter Jordan Cronin.

The Magpies failed to secure the services of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, with the Eagles holding out for a fee in excess of £70m. Speaking on the Geordie Journos Show on Shots!, Cronin said that he can understand manager Eddie Howe wanting to sign Premier League proven players but there were other options abroad that should have been considered:

“I feel like Newcastle’s search has been very narrow-minded in terms of just targeting Premier League players and, look, Eddie Howe likes what he likes, I think for a lot of his career he has always signed proven Premier League players and he will probably argue that it’s worked but… if you continue to pay a premium on players who don’t really have sell-on value, you are then left with holes in terms of PSR rules…”

“If I was given the time to scout the European market, I would be able to come up with a couple of names that would be cheaper than Marc Guehi and equally as good… That has been the biggest disappointment for me over the last couple of transfer windows that I feel that Newcastle have given off that they are only narrow-minded in terms of Premier League players and that’s, for me, not a working transfer methodology.”

Guehi is gathering interest from Premier League rivals

Reports in recent days suggest that the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool may consider pursuing Guehi during a future transfer window.

It means that Newcastle may have missed their chance to secure Guehi’s signature. However, his contract situation will consequently see him become available for a lower fee in January or next summer.

A power struggle at Newcastle is on the cards

That narrow focus on Premier League players which Cronin mentions is something that could be a bone of contention in the coming months. Sporting director Paul Mitchell has spoken out publicly to say that the current strategy is “not fit for purpose”.

Mitchell is hoping to use his expertise to recruit young players from across Europe, but that will bring him into direct conflict with Howe.

Find out who is in Newcastle United’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here