Keith Gillespie has told Football FanCast that Newcastle United should not sign Kyle Bartley from West Bromwich Albion this summer.

The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week that the Magpies are keeping close tabs on Bartley ahead of a potential summer move.

Both West Brom and Newcastle are mired in relegation trouble; the Baggies are 19th, while the Magpies are currently 17th, just two points clear of Fulham.

Burnley are also interested, but any deal between Newcastle and West Brom may depend on the former’s survival as the season comes to a head.

Gillespie played for the club between 1995 and 1998 and he does not believe that any deal will excite the St James’ Park faithful, while he also maintains that a centre-back is not necessarily needed.

He told FFC: “They want the players that are going to excite them and bringing in a centre-half is not going to do that. Defensively, at times, they have been okay, so it’s not something that I would earmark.”

Indeed, Gillespie has insisted that Newcastle actually need more help going forward as they look to score more goals.

Their current top scorer is Callum Wilson, with 10 goals, while only Miguel Almiron has netted five or more.

Gillespie added: “I think you need players further forward, who are going to create, midfielders, maybe, depending on what way you’re going to play, get somebody up alongside Callum Wilson when he’s fit.”