Player plus cash deal mooted for Newcastle United's move for Marc Guehi but player will not be Joe Willock

Crystal Palace are believed to be interested in Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock, which we had suggested could make things easier for the Magpies to land their top target Marc Guehi.

Newcastle could have added Joe Willock into the deal to sign the England centre-back this summer, but according to The Athletic, Eddie Howe wants to keep hold of Willock for next season.

While the former Arsenal man has never really hit the heights we thought he would, and his recent starts for the club have done little to convince us he's got much left to give, Howe clearly sees him as a valuable member of the squad, especially with Champions League football returning to St James' Park next season.

However, all is not lost as The Chronicle claims that Palace may have their eye on another Toon player who is definitely more expendable.

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Newcastle don't want to pay £50 million for Marc Guehi

Palace still value Guehi at over £50 million despite the defender only having 12 months remaining on his contract, and penny-pinching PIF aren't willing to match that valuation.

However, Palace are keen on Newcastle's £15 million flop Matt Targett, and it's believed that he could be added to the offer to sweeten the deal and shave a few million off the cash value.

Matt Targett had a blistering start to life at Newcastle while on loan from Aston Villa, earning himself a permanent move to St James' Park, where he's spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.

Sending Matt Targett to Crystal Palace as part of a deal for Marc Guehi makes perfect sense

It seems Crystal Palace are able to look beyond his injury woes and feel he's still got enough to offer. There's no doubt that Targett is a quality player when he's fit, but that's rarer than how neanderthals ate their steak.

Offloading Targett and bringing in Marc Guehi in one deal is a classic case of killing two birds with one stone.

However, there's nothing to suggest this will happen as yet, as, like our Willock suggestion, this is a move hypothesised by a writer rather than something they've actually heard.

Let's hope it grows to be more than just an idea.