Crystal Palace propose offer of £14m for ex-Barcelona starlet

Crystal Palace have stepped up talks for Real Betis defender Chadi Riad after proposing an offer of £12.7million with a further £1.7m in add ons.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Monday that Palace had opened talks for the former Barcelona centre back ahead of increased competition from rival European suitors.

Palace want defensive cover as interest grows in their England international Marc Guehi.

Riad was born in Majorca but represents Morocco owing to his parentage. He only joined Betis last summer in a £3m deal and Barca had a buy back option but are concentrating on other priorities.

It is understood Barcelona are due 50 per cent of the profit Betis make on any transfer.

The 20-year-old joined Betis from Barcelona has enjoyed a strong season under coach Manuel Pellegrini, making 31 appearances and attracting attention from a number of clubs across Europe.

Riad is 6ft 3ins tall, athletic, quick and left-footed. Palace have been looking for that style of defender amid increasing interest in Guehi, who is on Manchester United’s radar among others.

Betis value Riad at around £15million and talks have taken place with Palace representatives in recent days as they look to strike an agreement.

Palace have also discussed Maxence Lacroix of Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest’s Moussa Niakhaté for the centre back position though they are likely to be more expensive options.

Palace finished the season with a flourish under Oliver Glasner but recognise their squad will need strengthening amid growing interest in some of their star performers.

Enquiries are expected for Guehi as well as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise, who is admired by Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea among others.

Midfielder Adam Wharton, who only joined from Blackburn in January, is also admired by Bayern Munich but Palace value him highly and hope to convince him to stay.