Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Chelsea midfield prospect Conor Gallagher.
Fabrizio Romano has told Caught Offside that Newcastle United are interested in signing 22-year-old English midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea this month.
Fabrizio Romano said to Caught Offside “Interest is genuine and strong by both Newcastle and Crystal Palace since July, but it’s up to Chelsea. They will make a decision on many players in the next days, including Gallagher. Potter remains big fan of his potential but it has to be club decision together with the coach.”
Apparently, Newcastle are looking to bring in midfield reinforcements following the injuries to Jonjo Shelvey and Bruno Guimaraes. The Magpies cannot afford to see their UEFA Champions League chase derailed. And they will need to address their current injury concerns by bringing in the necessary reinforcements.
Gallagher has had a tough time at Stamford Bridge, and he has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot under Graham Potter. However, the Chelsea manager remains a big fan of his potential, and it remains to be seen whether Potter is willing to sanction his departure this month.
The player will be hoping to play regularly at this stage of his career, and the option to join Newcastle could be an attractive proposition for the Chelsea midfield prospect. The 22-year-old had a fruitful loan spell at Crystal Palace last year, and the Eagles were keen on signing him permanently at the start of the season.
It seems that the Londoners are still keen on Gallagher and could look to make a move in January. It will be interesting to see if Newcastle can fend off the competition from Crystal Palace and secure the midfielder’s services, provided Chelsea are willing to part with him.
The Magpies are chasing a top-four finish and have a much more ambitious project compared to Palace. Newcastle are certainly a more attractive option compared to the Eagles, and Gallagher might well be tempted to join them. Working under a manager like Eddie Howe could help him fulfil his tremendous potential as well.
In theory, the 22-year-old could be the ideal partner for group Bruno Guimaraes. The Chelsea midfield prospect will help out Newcastle defensively. And his relentless work ethic could be an ideal skill set to have alongside the Brazilian midfielder. The 22-year-old could take over the defensive duties of Guimaraes and let him operate with more freedom.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are chasing a top-four finish as well. And it might not be a wise decision for them to weaken the squad in January. It is fair to assume that any move for Gallagher might have to wait until the summer transfer window.
