Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is eyeing up a move for Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour.

What's the story?

With the Premier League season now over, the Magpies can focus on trying to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign, and it appears the Tyneside club are looking south to Chelsea for a couple of their promising talents.

According to The Northern Echo, Bruce is keen on exploring a loan deal for Gilmour, with the 19-year-old having initially being lined up for a temporary move away from west London in January before Thomas Tuchel stepped in.

The report adds: "Having enabled Joe Willock to flourish during his loan spell at St James’ Park, Bruce will hope to persuade Tuchel and the rest of Chelsea’s coaching staff that Gilmour would also benefit from a spell in the starting line-up at Newcastle."

He wowed Roy Keane

The Magpies saw the success of bringing in a midfielder on loan from one of the Premier League's big six in Joe Willock, and are now eyeing doing so with Gilmour.

The Scot has already earned rave reviews for his performances with the Blues at Stamford Bridge, with Manchester United legend Roy Keane telling Sky Sports last season (via talkSPORT): "As the game started I literally got out of my seat, which I very rarely do, and I thought, ‘Who is this kid?’ There are certain traits you want from a midfielder, quality on the ball, football intelligence, composure. He had everything. It was one of the best performances I have seen in a long, long time.

"He makes the game look easy, he looks forward, he’s got his head swivelling, looking over the shoulder, he was very positive with his passing."

His fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, meanwhile added: "He's so talented on the ball. He looks so comfortable; the minute he moves, he manipulates it. He's a big talent for Chelsea and Scotland going forward - and a really well-rounded kid."

The £9m-rated midfielder could come into St James' Park and have the same kind of refreshing impact that Willock brought from Arsenal - a young talent desperate for first-team game-time in the Premier League and wanting to impress.

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After the years of seeing Jonjo Shelvey toil away in the engine room for the Magpies, and not really leading his Newcastle team anywhere, perhaps it's the perfect time for the changing of the guard.

A loan spell on Tyneside for Gilmour would give Newcastle and Bruce some fresh ideas in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Newcastle must land this "electrically fast" Championship star...