Crystal Palace accelerate plans for defensive signings amid interest in Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace are stepping up plans to sign new centre-backs, as Joachim Andersen closes in a on a move to Fulham and Newcastle weigh up a fresh bid for Marc Guehi.

Palace are in talks over deals for Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix and Benfica’s Tomas Araujo, while Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah remains an option.

The Eagles need defensive reinforcements after agreeing a £27million deal to sell Andersen to Fulham.

Newcastle are not giving up in their pursuit of Guehi, who Palace value at £70m, and the Eagles have targeted moves Lacroix and Araujo.

Lacroix played under Palace manager Oliver Glasner during his spell in charge of Wolfsburg and is said to be keen to reunite with the Austrian.

The 24-year-old Frenchman is in the final year of his contract at Wolfsburg, where he has made over 100 appearances for since joining them from Sochaux in 2020.

Araujo, a 22-year-old Portuguese defender, enjoyed a breakthrough year at Benfica last season when he played in the Champions League.

Palace have also been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou.

Andersen is finalising a return to Fulham after Palace decided to sell the Denmark defender.

Palace have rejected four offers from Newcastle for Guehi, the latest of which was worth around £60m plus £5m in add-ons.

Palace owner Steve Parish has said they are unlikely to let both Andersen and Guehi leave this summer, but sources in the north-east say Newcastle are not giving up in their bid to sign the England defender.

Parish has told Newcastle to stump up “superstar money” if they want to sign Guehi, who shone at Euro 2024.