Conor Gallagher is a player Newcastle like as they look to strengthen in midfield, according to The Athletic's Chris Waugh

The lowdown

Gallagher spent the 2020/21 season on loan from Chelsea at West Bromwich Albion, who suffered relegation from the Premier League.

The Englishman started 28 Premier League matches for the Baggies, scoring twice and contributing two assists (via WhoScored).

Only Aston Villa's John McGinn (12) picked up more yellow cards than the 21-year-old (11) over the course of the campaign.

It was reported earlier this week that Crystal Palace are also trying to sign Gallagher as they close on the signing of fellow Chelsea youngster Marc Guehi (via The Athletic).

The latest

Newcastle are apparently looking to sign two midfielders of different moulds during the transfer window. They want one 'box-to-box' player but also a 'combative presence' in the middle of the park.

'Ideally' one of their additions would be Joe Willock, who spent the latter half of the 2020/21 campaign at St James' Park, but Gallagher is a player the Toon 'admire'.

The verdict

Gallagher probably deserves another shot in the Premier League after a season in what was a desperately poor, ill-equipped West Brom side.

He underlined his talent in a spell at Swansea the year before, playing a key role as they reached the Championship play-offs.

Missing out on Willock would be a pretty huge disappointment and Gallagher would enter St James' Park under that cloud, but he has the tools to be a decent alternative, registering one shot and one dribble per game last term while completing 81.5 per cent of his passes (Whoscored).

In other news, Ben Jacobs has dropped this claim on Newcastle's takeover arbitration