JUST-IN: Despite having previously made a move with Marc Guehi, Newcastle has formally inked an agreement with Free agent, so they might still sign “one of the best” on a free transfer.

Newcastle could still sign ‘one of the best’ on free transfer after Marc Guehi saga having already made move

Newcastle were involved in one of the main sagas of the summer transfer window after holding talks to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

The Magpies bid as high as £70m for the England international as Eddie Howe desperately tried to bolster his centre-back department, although Crystal Palace ended discussions after Chadi Riad suffered a serious knee injury.

Now – however – Newcastle could sign a free agent after missing out on Marc Guehi…

Newcastle could sign Mario Hermoso

Paul Mitchell – Director of Football at St James’ Park – failed to land an alternative to Guehi as Newcastle simply ran out of time, but there is an alternative who can still be signed even after Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline in Mario Hermoso.

The Spain international surprisingly remains a free agent after his contract with Atletico Madrid expired at the end of last season.

A story from Mundo Deportivo claimed that Newcastle previously held talks about signing Hermoso back in June 2022 as Howe again made attempts to improve his centre-back department.

The Spaniard – aged 29 – is a vastly experienced footballer, having amassed 29 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, 174 appearances for Atletico Madrid and five caps for Spain, winning La Liga along the way.

Hermoso – who Diego Simeone once called “one of the best” around – can be signed whenever due to his status as a free agent, although time is of the essence for Newcastle.

Magpies need to be quick

At the time of writing, the man from Madrid remains a free agent, but Roma are pushing hard to sign him – so time is of the essence for Newcastle, or else Howe will have to wait until January for another chance to land a new central defender.

That is to be expected, as Hermoso – who Tottenham considered signing during the summer transfer window – is arguably the best defender on the free agent market, given his wealth of experience, and also the fact he is yet to enter his thirties.

It remains to be seen if Newcastle dip into this market to find an alternative to Guehi, but if Howe and Mitchell do decide to take advantage of some freebies, they will need to be quick as Roma push for the Spaniard.