Newcastle United are considering their options as transfer talks for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi stall.
The Magpies have chased the England international since the end of Euro 2024 as part of an ambitious move to bring him to Tyneside for the 2024/25 season.
Eddie Howe's side have reportedly seen FOUR bids rejected for the 24-year-old as Palace battle to keep hold of their skipper.
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The Eagles have stuck to their £70m ($90m) valuation throughout the negotiations, with Newcastle now believed to have hit that mark, but the deal remains deadlocked.
Newcastle are determined to secure their No.1 defensive target before the EPL transfer window closes on August 30 but a Plan B has been drawn up.
Howe is keen to bolster his backline, and if Guehi stays at Selhurst Park, Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba could be an option.
As per an update from Sky Sports, Newcastle are tracking the 25-year-old Burkina Faso international, who played a key role in Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga title win last season.
Chelsea's Axel Disasi is also on Newcastle's shortlist, with the Blues keen to offload more players before the window closes, and Tapsoba and Disasi would both cost considerably less than Guehi.
The final days of the window will be crucial for Palace, as Oliver Glasner may need to replace both of his first-choice central defenders, with Joachim Andersen linked with a return to Fulham.
