Newcastle United have reportedly asked Chelsea about a loan deal for Conor Gallagher.
That is according to the Northern Echo, who state that the Magpies have inquired about the 22-year-old midfielder and Sheffield United star Sander Berge.
While Berge is a new target for Newcastle, talk of Gallagher heading to St James’ Park is nothing new. He has been relentlessly linked with a move to Tyneside recent years, and was mentioned as a midfield option earlier in the January transfer window.
However, Newcastle’s need for a midfielder has intensified over the past 24 hours. Jonjo Shelvey is set to sign for Nottingham Forest, leaving Eddie Howe with limited options in the middle of the park.
Toon Sporting Director Dan Ashworth is now scouring the loan market to try and find a replacement, and has asked Chelsea about letting Gallagher join Newcastle on a temporary deal.
He would be a brilliant addition to Howe’s squad, and was described as a potential ‘perfect‘ signing by Ally McCoist when he was linked earlier in the month.
However, the Northern Echo add that Newcastle feel like they may have a problem in their bid to bring Gallagher up north.
Newcastle have Conor Gallagher concern despite loan approach
While Newcastle have registered their interest in signing Gallagher, that does not necessarily mean that they are confident they can sign him.
The Northern Echo add that Toon officials believe Chelsea will be reluctant to let their academy graduate move to St James’ Park given that we are now seen as a rival.
Howe’s side are currently challenging for a place in next season’s Champions League, and are third after 20 games. Chelsea are down in 10th, 10 points shy of the Magpies. So in that respect, we aren’t rivals at all…
But Newcastle’s rise has made domestic deals difficult, as rivals do not want to help us out and potentially make us stronger.
Gallagher moving to St James’ would do just that, and he would massively boost our bid to finish in the top four.
It was recently reported that Chelsea were reluctant to loan Hakim Ziyech to Newcastle. He was linked with Howe’s side when it looked like the Anthony Gordon deal was in doubt.
The Magpies’ interest in Ziyech is probably over now, but Chelsea’s stance on sending players to the North East surely remains the same.
The only thing that could change their minds is if they sign Enzo Fernandez. They are trying to land the World Cup winner from Benfica, which may force the Blues to get rid of one of their current midfielders.
Fernandez arriving could force someone like Gallagher out the door, and hand Newcastle a chance to get the Shelvey replacement they crave.
The Toon recruitment team have made their move, but are seemingly skeptical that they can get a deal done.
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