NEWCASTLE UNITED have held preliminary discussions with Crystal Palace over a possible deal for England centre-half Marc Guehi.

Magpies officials have signalled their interest in Guehi, and while Crystal Palace intend to do all they can to hold on to the 24-year-old, Newcastle’s recruitment team have not been put off by the Eagles’ initial stance and are understood to be preparing a formal offer.

While Newcastle have signed Lloyd Kelly following his release from Bournemouth earlier this summer, the absence of both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles in the early months of the season mean they are extremely keen to land another central defender.

Talks with AC Milan over Malick Thiaw have failed to result in an agreement, with the Newcastle hierarchy refusing to meet the Italian club’s demands, so attention has switched to Guehi, who was one of the stars of England’s campaign at the recent European Championships in Germany.

Guehi, who progressed through the youth ranks at Chelsea before moving to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021 for a reported fee of £18m, has developed into one of the leading centre-halves in the Premier League in the last couple of seasons.

He made 25 top-flight appearances for Palace last season, and partnered John Stones in all bar one of England’s matches as they reached the final of the Euros.

He is contracted to Selhurst Park for two more seasons, so Newcastle face a battle to prise him away from Palace, who have already lost Michael Olise to Bayern Munich this summer.

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Everton are understood to be demanding around £60m for Manchester United target Jarrad Branthwaite, so Newcastle are likely to be quoted a similar figure for Guehi, who boasts considerably more top-flight experience.

Newcastle’s spending continues to be constrained by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations, however the move to a new accountancy period at the end of June means the club does have more scope to invest in the playing squad than has been the case in the last 12 months.

A centre-half has been a summer-long priority, along with the purchase of a new attacker to play in a wide position on the right.

Newcastle are also closing in on the capture of another forward, with Sheffield United having agreed a package worth around £15m for 20-year-old William Osula. The Magpies will pay an initial fee of around £10m for Osula, with a further £5m potentially due in add-ons.