Newcastle could turn focus back to last summer's top defensive target if Marc Guehi bid fails

The Marc Guehi saga will come to an end one way or another this week with Newcastle United primed to walk away if a deal is not agreed by the weekend.

It makes sense, therefore, that Newcastle United are currently looking at other defensive targets as a contingency plan.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has credited Newcastle with an interest in Chelsea flop Axel Disasi but claims the Magpies are also looking at Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen.

Tapsoba isn't an unknown to Newcastle after he was seen as one of, if not the top defensive targets of last summer for Eddie Howe.

Edmond Tapsoba has one start and one assist so far this season

The Burkino Faso international was tracked by Newcastle for a while last summer but ultimately he stayed with Leverkusen.

Tapsoba was part of the Leverkusen side which went unbeaten almost all season losing only once, in the Europa League final.

This season he has appeared in the DFL Super Cup where he racked up an assist as Leverkusen went on to win on penalties against VfB Stuttgart.

Should we abandon the Guehi saga and go all-in on Tapsoba?

It's believed that Tapsoba will be Newcastle's first port of call should the Marc Guehi deal collapse, although there is quite a list of players behind him.

After being part of Leverkusen's history-making side, it may be difficult to lure him away but the 25-year-old would be a fantastic alternative to Guehi.

He's likely to cost way less too. In fact, we'd go as far as to say just walk away from Crystal Palace and their silly games and focus on Tapsoba.