NEWCASTLE UNITED have been told they will have to pay “superstar money” to prise their leading transfer target, Marc Guehi, from Crystal Palace.

The Magpies have now tabled three separate offers for Guehi, but none have met Palace’s valuation of the centre-half, who has entered the final two years of his current contract at Selhurst Park.

Newcastle’s most recent offer is understood to have been worth more than £50m, but Palace have consistently maintained they will not allow Guehi to leave for less than £65m, the vast majority of which will have to be paid up front rather than be dependent on future clauses being met.

Palace chairman Steve Parish has now doubled down on his club’s position, with Newcastle’s pursuit of Guehi once again appearing to be at an impasse.

“Nobody has got to the valuation yet,” said Parish, in an interview with Sky Sports News. “If you want a superstar player, you need to pay superstar money. It’s not near the point where we have to make a decision.

“We love having him and would love to keep him. If someone else wants to have him, they need to make it really difficult for us. He’s a generational talent.”

Newcastle have alternative defensive targets, one of which is believed to be AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw, but Guehi, who played in Palace’s final pre-season friendly against Nantes last weekend, is their preferred option as they look to strengthen a central-defensive unit that will be missing both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles until well into the season.

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Palace have already lost Michael Olise this summer after Bayern Munich triggered the French winger’s release clause, and Parrish is clearly keen to avoid a complete dismantling of the squad that did so well under Oliver Glasner in the closing stages of last season.

The situation regarding Guehi is further complicated by Palace’s ongoing talks with Fulham over another of their centre-halves, Joachim Andersen.

Fulham reportedly tabled an improved offer for Andersen earlier today, with their latest offer for the 28-year-old understood to involve an initial payment of £25m with a further £5m of potential add-ons.

Palace, whose initial valuation of Andersen was reportedly closer to £40m, are assessing their position, and would be understandably reluctant to lose both of their first-choice centre-halves during the same transfer window.

If Andersen was to join Fulham, it would significantly reduced the likelihood of Newcastle being able to agree a deal for Guehi.

The Magpies have also been holding talks with MLS side Charlotte FC over Miguel Almiron. Charlotte are hoping to push through a deal for Almiron ahead of the MLS transfer deadline, which falls in less than 48 hours, but their initial valuation of the Paraguayan is understood to be some way short of what Newcastle would be willing to consider.