Newcastle United will need to put together a loan agreement with an obligation to pay at least £45m if they want to sign Conor Gallagher, according to journalist Craig Hope.

The Lowdown: Gallagher leaving?

Chelsea have strengthened their squad considerably in the January transfer window, bringing in the likes of Mykhaylo Mudryk for £88.5m and Benoit Badiashile for £35m, but they are still targeting new additions in the centre of midfield.

The Guardian report that the Blues are closing in on a £115m deal for Enzo Fernandez, while adding that they could also make a late push for Moises Caicedo, which means that there could be no room for Gallagher in Graham Potter's squad.

The Latest: Newcastle told what they must pay

According to Hope via Twitter, Newcastle must match the £45m offer for the midfielder which is currently on the table from Everton if they want to secure a deal before the deadline.

The agreement would be on loan with an obligation to buy, and the journalist also claims that Eddie Howe is a 'big admirer' of the player.

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The Verdict: Worth it?

The 22-year-old has recently been hailed as 'fantastic' by Chelsea manager Potter, so the possibility of him leaving the west London club isn't due to a lack of ability, but because of the sheer amount of talent that the Blues could have in his position by the close of play tonight.

What is particularly impressive about the Englishman is that he has a lot to offer in an attacking and defensive sense, with the latter being indicated best by the fact that he has averaged 1.74 blocks per 90 in the past year, placing in the 91st percentile compared to other midfielders in Europe's top five leagues.

While on loan at Crystal Palace last season, the maestro reached double figures for goal contributions in the Premier League, finishing the campaign with a very respectable total of eight goals and three assists.

£45m is a lot for Gallagher but he is still very young, and a move to Newcastle, where he would be able to feature more regularly in the first team, could be exactly what he needs in order to flourish.