Marc Guehi alternative slips from Newcastle's grasp as £70m deal falls apart

Newcastle United look to be in real danger of ending this transfer window without adding a single player who improves the first team squad.

Without wanting to sound too disrespectful to Lloyd Kelly and Will Osula, Newcastle's transfer business this summer is just over 24 hours away from ending in complete, abject failure.

The aforementioned pair were brought in this summer and added much-needed depth to the squad but neither walk into the first team and instantly improve it.

Lewis Hall was merely a formality after spending last season at Newcastle on loan so his arrival doesn't count, and we all know just how pointless the two goalkeeping arrivals are.

Newcastle's alleged back up plan is no longer viable

Now the feeling is that Newcastle are prepared to walk away from the Marc Guehi transfer as Crystal Palace are, to put it mildly, taking the piss.

For the last couple of days there was a feeling that RB Leipzig's French centre-back Mohamed Simakan could be looked at as an alternative should the Guehi bid fail, but now that no longer looks to be a possibility.

It has been reported by journalist Fabrice Hawkins this afternoon that Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have reached a 'total agreement' for the 24-year-old.

We are dreading the atmosphere on Sunday if there's no movement by tomorrow

There's barely enough time now to find an alternative should Newcastle walk away from the deal or if Crystal Palace reject the latest offer which means Paul Mitchell has wasted a month trying to get one deal over the line and look set to come away empty-handed.

We were excited when Paul Mitchell was announced as Dan Ashworth's successor, but we are starting to think that excitement was misplaced.

It's going to be very interesting to see the fallout between him and Eddie Howe should we fail to bring in any improvements before tomorrow's deadline. Not to mention the fan reaction on Sunday.