Crystal Palace enter Japhet Tanganga battle as Prem rivals eye bargain transfer clause

Japhet Tanganga's Millwall contract includes a modest £1.2m release clause (Image: Getty)

Crystal Palace are interested in signing Japhet Tanganga from south London rivals Millwall. But the Eagles' pursuit of the defender will depend on the sale of Marc Guehi, who is once again attracting interest from some of the Premier League's top sides.

Tanganga has spent the past 18 months at The Den, initially joining on loan before completing a free transfer last summer, when his Tottenham contract expired. Express Sport understands that a £1.2million release clause - available to all Premier League clubs this summer - was part of the package which took him to Millwall. And Palace are one of four top-flight sides in the mix.

Sunderland, Leeds United and Burnley also hold a concrete interest in Tanganga and would be ready to proceed once the player decides on his preference. But as a stable Premier League outfit based in London, Palace would have the edge if it turned into a straight four-way battle.

Millwall received offers for Tanganga in January - some well in excess of the £1.2m quoted - but they opted to keep hold of their star defender for an ill-fated play-offs push.

Now, they could lose him for an unusually small fee, and it is understood that Tanganga would like his future resolved by the end of the month.

Marc Guehi is being courted by Chelsea and Newcastle (Image: Getty)

Guehi has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United for multiple transfer windows, and he only has one year remaining on his Palace contract. Oliver Glasner's side has also been linked with Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande as they draft up contingency plans for their skipper's possible departure.

But while Diomande could command a fee in the region of £45m, Tanganga represents a unique market opportunity given the size of his release clause. The Spurs academy graduate won Millwall Supporters' Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards in April, having scored twice in 43 appearances over the course of the campaign.

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Palace are yet to make a permanent signing this summer, despite releasing veteran squad players Jeffrey Schlupp and Joel Ward, and sending on-loan Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell back to Stamford Bridge.

Also on the club's to-do list is to secure the futures of in-demand stars Tyrick Mitchell and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who have both been linked with moves elsewhere. Palace finished 12th in the league last season but rounded off the campaign with their first major trophy by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.