Newcastle: Eddie Howe sees £22.5m star as 'right signing' at St James' Park

Newcastle United have identified Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher as the ‘right player’ to bolster their midfield, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

The Magpies are known to be in the market for reinforcements in attacking areas, and the 22-year-old could provide the goal threat from a central position that they are looking for.

Signing Gallagher could be difficult, though, as Thomas Tuchel claimed that he can be a ‘big asset’ for Chelsea after he impressed during pre-season.

However, that has not prevented multiple Premier League sides from trying their luck following the England international’s outstanding spell on loan at Crystal Palace last term.

90min have reported that Palace and Newcastle have asked Chelsea about Gallagher’s availability only to be informed that he has no intention of departing Stamford Bridge at this moment in time.

The box-to-box dynamo was handed his first start for his boyhood club over the weekend, yet it ended in disaster after he was substituted just after the hour mark as Leeds United eased to a 3-0 victory.

Gallagher, who is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, still has three years left to run on his £32,000-per-week contract, yet it remains to be seen if he still features in Tuchel’s first-team plans.

When asked whether the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and Gallagher were on Newcastle’s wish list, Downie informed GiveMeSport that it’s the latter who manager Eddie Howe really wants.

He said: “I honestly think if he (Howe) doesn’t add in midfield, he will be okay with it, I think he’ll actually be okay. But I think if the right player came up, and my feeling is Conor Gallagher, and the information I’m getting, is the right player.

“If he doesn’t come up, then they’ve got a