By Noel Whelan

22nd Jan, 2023 | 5:20am

Newcastle United tipped to complete Conor Gallagher signing after Chelsea twist - pundit

Noel Whelan has claimed Newcastle United will be able to blow other Premier League sides out of the water to land Conor Gallagher this month.

The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Magpies could sign the 22-year-old for a knockdown fee as Chelsea look to balance the books following a mammoth January spend.

According to The Telegraph (16 January), Newcastle are plotting a move for Gallagher this month as the Stamford Bridge look to offload a number of fringe stars.

The report claims the Magpies are also lining up moves for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Hakim Ziyech.

Gallagher has struggled to nail down a starting berth at Stamford Bridge but travelled with England to the World Cup in Qatar last year.

His best form came on loan at Crystal Palace last season, where he notched eight goals and five assists in 39 appearances.

Whelan told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “These are three players that a lot of clubs would want to have.

“The only stumbling block could be that they’re on big money. But we know Newcastle have got the funds that other teams don’t.

“They need the strength in depth.

“Chelsea will have to get rid of players for next to nothing because they seem to be spending and spending at the moment.

“I think Newcastle are the one Premier League team who can be appealing to these players. The regime in place, the fanbase, their position in the league table – it’s all going for them.

“Gallagher, I can tell you now, is the one, for me. He appeals more than the other two because of his age and what he’s already done at Crystal Palace.”

In other news, Football Insider updates as Newcastle open preliminary talks on new signing with two senior stars to leave.