Newcastle United have now moved ahead of Chelsea in the race for an "amazing" Premier League defender, having taken concrete action to secure his signature, according to a report.
Magpies set sights on new centre-back
With current centre-back options Fabian Schar and Dan Burn now in their 30s, bringing in a new defender is expected to be a major focus for Newcastle this summer, and there has been a positive development in their pursuit of AS Monaco's Wilfried Singo.
Paul Mitchell is now increasingly confident that a deal for Singo will be possible this summer, having previously sent scouts to watch the Ivorian defender in action, and there is a feeling the 24-year-old would be keen on a move to the Premier League.
Singo is not the only option on the shortlist, however, with it recently being revealed the Magpies have now joined the race for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is set to leave the German club on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.
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Newcastle are also weighing up defenders who have already proven themselves in the Premier League, and TEAMtalk have now provided a positive update on their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who has been a long-term target.
According to the report, Eddie Howe's side have now moved ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea in the race for Guehi, and his price tag has now been drastically reduced, with the Eagles now willing to sanction a departure for a fee of just £46m.
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi reacts after the match
The Tynesiders have now taken concrete action to sign the England international, placing them in the driving seat, as the Blues have not taken any steps towards securing his signature, but the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest could also provide competition.
"Amazing" Guehi could be ideal signing for Newcastle
Schar and Burn have played a major role in transforming Newcastle into major contenders for trophies, with the latter even scoring in the EFL Cup final, but with both players now approaching their mid-thirties, a younger option may be required at centre-back.
At 24-years-old, the £50,000-a-week Palace captain fits the bill in that regard, and the defender's vast Premier League experience could make him an ideal option, having now made 132 top-flight appearances.
During that time, the Englishman has caught the eye of compatriot Harry Maguire, who described the Palace star as "amazing", which is underlined by the fact he is among the Eagles' most consistent performers in the Premier League this season.
Guehi could be the perfect addition to the Newcastle squad this summer, and the fact that he is now set to be available for just £46m is an added bonus for the Magpies, given that the Ivory Coast-born star has previously been valued at around the £75m mark.