Eddie Howe unsure over fifth Marc Guehi bid as Chelsea star 'emerges as alternative target'

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has confessed the club are yet to decide whether they will make a fifth bid for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.

The Magpies have failed with four offers for the England international, the last of which was believed to be worth an initial £60m with a further £5m in add-ons. Reports suggest Palace are holding out for £70m.

Complicating matters for Newcastle was a harsh red card to Fabian Schar in the opening day win over Southampton, leaving the team light at the back, but Howe is adamant they will not overreact in the transfer market.

"Of course, we're looking in the transfer market," Howe admitted. "We've got a period of time left, and we'll see what we can do.

"Could we do something in the market? Possibly, but conditions have to be right for us. As I've said all along, we can't do something that goes against the long-term good of the football club, so we'll try to make the right decision."

Palace chairman Steve Parish told talkSPORT of the negotiations: "We're always very respectful when we get a bid for a player. We're very respectful of Newcastle United and [sporting director] Paul Mitchell is somebody I have an incredible amount of time for.

"I've known him for a long time, he's been very, very good to me in football and we have a good relationship. So, he and I have had a chat about this. Inevitably, the agents are involved and have got a point of view, they're decent guys. We've had conversations with other clubs that have expressed interest as well."

Potentially a key figure in this saga could be Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, who Sky Sports News state has emerged as a target for both Palace and Newcastle.

Palace could move for Chalobah, who has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge, as a replacement for Guehi, while Newcastle see the Chelsea academy graduate as a cut-price alternative if they can't convince Palace to sell their star defender.

Chalobah is valued at around £25m, with Chelsea officials keen to sell to raise funds.

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