NEWCASTLE UNITED are set to hold a new round of talks over Marc Guehi in the next 24 hours amid mounting talk of competing interest from Liverpool in the England international.

Newcastle officials discussed Guehi’s position with their counterparts at Crystal Palace at the end of last week, having identified the 24-year-old as their leading central-defensive target.

Palace are adamant they will not be selling Guehi for less than £60m, with Chelsea understood to have inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause into the deal that took the defender to Selhurst Park in the summer of 2021.

Guehi is understood to be aware of Newcastle’s interest in securing his services, and is believed to be open to the idea of moving to St James’ Park as he looks to challenge in the top half of the Premier League table and cement his starting spot in the England team.

His potential availability has sparked considerable interest in a number of different quarters though, with Liverpool having been heavily linked with a move of their own over the weekend.

The Newcastle hierarchy always felt there would be significant competition for Guehi, and are hoping to be able to make progress with their own transfer talks in the next couple of days.

READ MORE:

While Eddie Howe and a senior Magpies delegation have been in Japan, where Newcastle suffered a 2-0 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos in the final game of their tour yesterday, work on deals for both Guehi and William Osula, who is set to move to Tyneside from Sheffield United, have been ongoing.

“Our efforts in the transfer market are ongoing,” said Howe, when asked about both players in the wake of Saturday’s game. “I'm out of touch with all of those movements. I know we're trying. Hopefully, we can bring you news soon. I'm not going to talk about individual deals.”

A deal for Osula has been agreed with Sheffield United officials, with Newcastle set to pay an initial fee of £10m for the 20-year-old forward, with a further £5m potentially due in add-ons.