Newcastle United aren’t short of midfielders with Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey and Sean Longstaff on the books, but Eddie Howe has been in the market for a new addition to the engine room.
Joelinton is a makeshift option in midfield and could eventually revert to an attacking role, Shelvey is currently injured and in the last year of his deal, and Longstaff only provided cover in the second half of last season, so the Magpies could do with an upgrade.
After recently giving up on trying to sign Leicester City’s James Maddison, Newcastle have been told by Kevin Campbell to go all out for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. He told Football Insider: “Gallagher would be a very good signing. He has a great engine.
“I don’t think he is as creative as Maddison though. He doesn’t have that craft. Gallagher is more of an all-action player. He would give them a lot at the top end of the pitch though because he can get around. He gets through 90 minutes easily.
“I think he needs to add a bit more creativity to his game. He is young and is still learning. Maddison is more experience than him. I still think Gallagher would a good signing though. I could see that.”
It remains to be seen if Newcastle stand a chance of signing him, however, as Thomas Tuchel wants him in his squad. He brought him off the bench in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Everton and praised his quality in previous interviews.
The 22-year-old impressed on loan at Crystal Palace last season (34 PL apps, 8 goals, 3 assists) and was named their Player of the Season, so it’s no surprise he’s been retained by Chelsea with a view to breaking into their first-team. Gallagher won’t be granted a departure unless Chelsea have a replacement lined up though.
In other news, Eddie Howe has difficult decision to make on Martin Dubravka
