Newcastle United will ‘break the bank’ for England international to replace Sven Botman

Newcastle United are prepared to stun the Premier League by signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this summer, according to reports.

Centre-back has become a top priority for the Magpies following ACL injuries to Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman. The latter, in particular, is a hammer blow for Newcastle as he remains the club’s standout defender.

Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are the only first-team options available - the same centre-back pairing Newcastle had when fighting off relegation. The Magpies needed to strengthen their backline before the recent injury setbacks and losing two defenders in quick succession has only amplified that cause.

Football Insider now claim Toon chiefs are considering breaking the bank to sign Guehi from Palace. A former Chelsea academy product, the 23-year-old has emerged as one of England’s most promising defenders in recent seasons.

Ironically, Guehi has been sidelined with a knee injury for the past seven games but should return later this month. The Eagles man has a strong chance of being on the plane with England for Euro 2024.

While still a young player, Guehi is just five games short of reaching 100 Premier League appearances. Palace know his worth, however, and are likely to demand an astronomical fee.

But Newcastle are also aware that the Three Lions star has two years remaining on his contract. Should they hold out, Palace could be forced to drastically lower their demands 12 months down the line.

Despite being right-footed, Guehi usually plays on the left of Palace’s centre-back pairing. This makes him suited to replace Botman while he recovers from a long-term injury before eventually partnering the Dutchman.