Newcastle United are believed to be keeping tabs on Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher, with multiple Premier League clubs circling to try and land the highly-rated midfielder.

What's the word?

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Magpies - along with both Crystal Palace and West Ham United - have enquired about signing the 22-year-old this summer, although the Blues are seemingly reluctant to part ways with the England international.

Writing on Twitter about the four-cap machine, the transfer insider revealed: "A number of clubs are keeping in touch with Chelsea about Conor Gallagher. Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Ham have made recent enquiries. As it stands Chelsea not considering letting him leave."

In his attached piece for 90min, Bailey reveals that those suitors have so far been shut down in their attempts to secure a permanent or loan deal for the Epsom-born starlet. However, that situation could well change if Thomas Tuchel and co land a new midfielder, amid recent speculation linking them with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.

Manager's dream

Although the Tynesiders face a battle to get a deal done for the 6 foot menace - who could reportedly cost in the region of £50m - it's easy to see why there is such a clamour for his services, following what has been a real breakthrough last 18 months or so.

After promising loan stints in the Football League with both Charlton Athletic and Swansea City, Gallagher was snapped up by West Bromwich Albion on a temporary deal for the 2020/21 season, going on to score two goals and provide two assists in his maiden top-flight campaign.

A loan move to Crystal Palace last summer proved even more fruitful for the £22.5m-rated gem, as he provided 13 goal contributions in 39 games for the Eagles last season, subsequently forcing his way into Gareth Southgate's plans at senior international level.

The "box-to-box midfielder", as described by Zach Lowy, became an "instant sensation" at Selhurst Park, impressing with both his creative flair and dogged defensive approach and proving to be something of an all-action asset.

That is best illustrated by the fact that he ranks in the top 7% for pressures made among those in his position across Europe's top five leagues over the last 12 months - showcasing his relentless work ethic - while he also ranks in the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 8% for dribbles completed.

Those latter two metrics demonstrate his willingness to arrive in the box from his central midfield berth and help drive the team forward with his innate dribbling ability, with such qualities unsurprisingly catching the eye of clubs across the top flight.

Those attributes have seen him dubbed a "manager's dream" by Palace manager Patrick Vieira, with Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe likely to be desperate to add such a progressive and dynamic midfield option to his ranks.