The Athletic journalist David Ornstein has delivered a frustrating update regarding reported Newcastle United transfer target Conor Gallagher.
What's the word?
Taking on Twitter, the respected source revealed that the 22-year-old midfielder is set to stay at current club Chelsea despite hefty interest in his services, with the Stamford Bridge outfit seemingly not entertaining any loan offers for the England international.
Ornstein stated: "Conor Gallagher staying at Chelsea. #CFC don’t want another loan & permanent offers well below valuation. Barring late twist, 22yo midfielder will be at Stamford Bridge until at least summer + important part of youth movement."
In his attached article for The Athletic, the reporter went on to name the Magpies as one of the clubs who had been keen on a possible move for the promising youngster, although it now looks unlikely that any transfer will take place before tonight's deadline.
Deadline Day heartbreak for Newcastle
That could well be a heartbreaking update as far as Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is concerned, with the 45-year-old likely to have been keen to bolster his midfield ranks before the end of the transfer window, having allowed long-serving playmaker Jonjo Shelvey to join Nottingham Forest.
Although journalist Luke Edwards (Telegraph live updates, 14:32), has suggested that there is a 'sense of calm' behind the scenes at St James' Park, amid the prospect of missing out on the former Crystal Palace loanee, it will be of real frustration to have yet again failed to recruit what appears to be a long-term target for the Tynesiders.
Gallagher - who was reportedly the subject of a £45m offer from Everton on Monday - would no doubt have provided stern competition to Howe's current options in midfield, having showcased his quality in the Premier League of late.
Although the four-cap menace has endured a mixed return to the first team in west London - having started just nine top-flight games this season - he has still illustrated his relentless and dynamic presence under Graham Potter, notably averaging 1.4 tackles per game in the league while also creating five big chances.
The highly-coveted asset, who also ranks in the top 14% among his European peers for dribbles completed over the past year, had particularly impressed during his stint at Selhurst Park last season, scoring eight times and registering three assists in the league under Patrick Vieira.
Bringing in such an all-round gem would certainly have helped in the Magpies' push for Champions League qualification, and it's set to be hugely frustrating for Howe not to be able to strengthen his already limited midfield resources.