Gabby Agbonlahor has dropped a big Newcastle United transfer claim about Conor Hourihane.

The Lowdown: Hourihane impresses

Hourinhane certainly impressed while on loan at Swansea City in the EFL Championship in the 2020/21 season.

The Republic of Ireland international scored no fewer than five goals and made a further two assists from midfield in 19 games in total in the division (Transfermarkt), helping them to the play-off final, in where they lost out to Brentford for a place in the Premier League.

The Latest: Hourihane to Newcastle?

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor, who is now a pundit after playing as a striker for both Aston Villa and the England national team, has claimed that the St. James' Park faithful 'would love' to have Hourihane in their team for the new term:

“I think he’ll definitely have offers.

“It depends what he wants to do. I think he’ll come back for pre-season, speak with the manager and take it from there.

“If he was to leave, he’d definitely have offers and there would be Premier League clubs after him.

“You look at the likes of Brentford, Newcastle. Steve Bruce knows him well. You look at Norwich, Watford, the teams that have come up. They would love to have him in their team.

“He won’t be short of offers. I just hope he gets the move that’s right for him.”

The Verdict: Sign him

Hourihane would certainly be a smart signing by the North East club, given that he would likely not cost too much money being 30 years of age and on the fringes at Villa after being sent out on loan.

His performances while at the Swans should not be ignored, as Steve Cooper, who is a highly-rated manager and who has recently been reported as the favourite for the vacant job at Crystal Palace, described him as 'excellent' after one of those displays back in January.

Bruce would also know how to get the best out of him, as the central midfielder played in 76 matches under the Geordie at Villa Park across three consecutive campaigns, scoring an impressive 14 times and supplying a further eight assists (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, signing Hourihane would be a shrewd piece of business by the Tyneside club.

In other news, find out what Mike Ashley has told the takeover consortium about arbitration here!