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Liverpool are targeting Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi(Image: Offside via Getty Images)

Crystal Palace are expecting Liverpool to make a formal offer for club captain Marc Guehi as talks continue with Sporting CP over a potential deal for his replacement, Ousmane Diomande.

Guehi is swiftly approaching the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and the Eagles are ready to cash in on their beloved skipper following last month's historic FA Cup triumph to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2026.

Liverpool are not the only side interested in the 24-year-old but Arne Slot's Premier League champions are now emerging as clear favourites to land Guehi as Palace also step up their pursuit of Ivory Coast international Diomande.

The highly-coveted 21-year-old is believed to have a £68million release clause written into his Sporting deal and while Palace are not prepared to put that kind of money on table, they are willing to smash their club-record to land the talented centre-back.

They have already made progress on personal terms, Diomande is open to the move and Palace have good relations with the player's agency ROOF, who also represent left wing-back Tyrick Mitchell.

Oliver Glasner has personally approved a swoop for Diomande as there is confidence he has big potential and crucially, there is belief he can play in multiple roles within the Austrian's three-man defensive line.

READ MORE:Liverpool pick out next transfer after Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez as £34m deal advancedREAD MORE:Florian Wirtz flies in for Liverpool medical after holiday with new team-mate

Newcastle, who have long courted Guehi, are also among Diomande's admirers and Ruben Amorim's former starlet has also been linked with Manchester United in the past 12 months.

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Now Palace are working on an agreement and while club-to-club discussions have now taken place, there is still a notable gap in valuation between the parties at this moment in time.

Selling Guehi would undoubtedly bolster the Eagles' spending power, though Liverpool have already intimated they would be prepared to wait 12 months to get their man on a free, if required.

Crystal Palace are stepping up interest in Ousmane Diomande(Image: (Image: Getty))

The Three Lions defender also has interest from Arsenal and former club Chelsea but Liverpool are expected to step up their pursuit of the player as Jarrell Quansah is close to joining German club Bayer Leverkusen in a £35m deal.

The agreement is now in the final stages and is expected to be worth £30m upfront plus £5m in bonuses.

Slot has been keen to bolster his defensive options and Liverpool had also looked at Dean Huijsen before the Spaniard opted to join Real Madrid in a £50m move.

Ibrahima Konate is also set to enter the final 12 months of his contract next month and while further discussions over fresh terms are expected to take place, there is a high likelihood he could run down his Anfield deal amid interest from Los Blancos.

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The Reds are on course to announce the £116.5m British-record signing of Florian Wirtz, who is in the North West for his medical tests, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is also poised to follow suit.

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