The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has revealed that Newcastle United were offered the chance to sign Chelsea talent Conor Gallagher this summer.
He insists that Steve Bruce ‘wanted him’ and the opportunity was there to bring him to St James’ Park, but club chiefs failed to make a move – allowing Crystal Palace to swoop in and seal a loan move.
Since then, Gallagher has been outstanding in the opening few weeks of the new season, scoring twice in their 2-2 draw at West Ham and bagging a couple of assists in a 3-0 win over Spurs on Saturday – picking up man of the match awards in two of his three appearances so far.
Bruce may have got one midfielder in Willock, but The Telegraph did report back in July that he AND Gallagher were wanted by the Newcastle United boss.
Speaking on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast yesterday, here’s what Edwards had to say about our seemingly pathetic attempt to land one of Bruce’s top targets:
“Gallagher, a player offered, we waxed lyrical about him playing for Crystal Palace,”
“He was offered to Newcastle, Steve Bruce wanted him. Crystal Palace could go sign Gallagher, but Newcastle can’t.
“That tells you everything about every single manager [under Mike Ashley], like Alan Shearer said on Match of the Day, are going to be operating with their hand tied behind their back.”
Gallagher was one of the shining lights in and otherwise dismal relegation season for West Brom and is now showing what he can do in a Palace shirt.
I watched their 3-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday and he was the best player on the pitch, showing for the ball, closing players down, dictating the play and making some smart runs into the box.
With two Premier League loan slots spare, it’s a massive shame we missed out on Gallagher – a player who’d have added some much needed drive and urgency to a midfield that can sometimes look one paced.
