Should Palace succeed in their bid, it would see Timber join his twin brother Jurrien in English football, with the Arsenal full-back having made the switch to the Emirates Stadium three years ago. Timber has been tipped for a move to the Premier League since his brother's move, and his impressive form for Marseille last season has only strengthened his chances.

The 25-year-old has been the subject of interest from several clubs this summer, including FC Porto and Aston Villa, but Palace's £17million bid appears to be the most serious. Marseille's financial situation has also played a role in Timber's potential departure, with the club needing to offload their saleable assets to balance the books.