Conor Gallagher tells Chelsea he prefers Newcastle move after £40m bid from Everton – Report

This afternoon, Fabrizio Romano announced that Everton had launched a £40m bid – plus £5m in add-ons – for Conor Gallagher.

However, The Mail’s Craig Hope has issued an intriguing update in response, saying the player has told Chelsea he’d prefer to join Newcastle instead if he’s to leave this month.

The 22-year-old is a boyhood Chelsea fan and seemingly desperate to prove himself under new boss Graham Potter, but it’s believed the Blues could ask him to leave over the next 24 hours to create space for Benfica star Enzo Fernandez.

So, it seems Newcastle have been given a chance to sign the England international, although he won’t come cheap, with Hope reporting that our offer would need to be an initial loan that includes an obligation to buy this summer for ‘at least £45m.’

Eddie Howe is thought to be a ‘big admirer’ of the high-energy midfielder and tried to sign him on loan last summer, but it remains to be seen if Newcastle would commit to such a package.

The irony is, Everton have used money from Anthony Gordon’s to sign Gallagher; only to be told he too prefers a move to St James’ Park or another ‘top six’ clubs.