Crystal Palace target £40m-rated star as potential replacement for captain Marc Guehi – and hold talks with Jean-Philippe Mateta amid Man United interest

Crystal Palace have enquired after Sporting Lisbon’s £40million-rated defender Ousmane Diomande and have held positive talks over a new contract for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. 

Palace face competition for Diomande, 21, who would be viewed as a replacement for Marc Guehi. 

Meanwhile, Mateta, who has attracted attention from Manchester United, Aston Villa and Marseille, has held positive discussions over staying at Selhurst Park.

Palace anticipate offers will come from Newcastle and Chelsea for Guehi. 

The Magpies made a plethora of failed bids for the England international last summer, whom Palace demanded £70m for.

Aside from Guehi, Chelsea remain keen on a number of defensive options, including Jorrel Hato of Ajax. 

The Eagles are interested in Diomande as a potential Marc Guehi replacement, who has attracted interested from Chelsea and Newcastle

Palace have also held positive discussions over Jean-Philippe Mateta – who has been linked with Manchester United – staying at Selhurst Park

The highly rated centre back made his senior debut at just 16 years old and became an undisputed starter for the Eredivisie side last season.

Now 19, Hato has been appointed as one of Ajax’s vice-captains, and was named Eredivisie Talent of the Year in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, Napoli are monitoring Trevoh Chalobah’s situation. The centre back has been at Chelsea since the age of eight, but his place at Stamford Bridge has come under heavy speculation over the past year.

Chalobah joined Palace on a season-long loan last August, but was recalled in January due to Enzo Maresca’s defensive injury crisis.