Revealed: Door open for Newcastle to sign Conor Gallagher after talks held
Newcastle United will continue to keep tabs on Conor Gallagher after holding talks with Chelsea over a January move, sources have told Football Insider.
The north-east giants pursued the midfielder, 22, in the recently-shut window and he was interested in joining them.
But Chelsea were not willing to let Gallagher go until they had tied up a deal for Enzo Fernandez.
The huge-spending Londoners did not complete the capture of the midfielder from Benfica until shortly before Tuesday's 11pm deadline.
That gave no time for Newcastle to push through a deal for Gallagher, who they wanted to replace Jonjo Shelvey.
It has been reported that Chelsea had blocked their academy product from joining Newcastle because they are seen as a rival for a top-four finish in the second half of the campaign.
However, Football Insider has been told by a source with knowledge of Gallagher's situation that Chelsea would have sold him to Newcastle in January if Fernandez had been secured earlier.
And, the Londoners will be willing to listen to offers for him in the main summer window.
That means the door is still open for Newcastle, who see Gallagher as the ideal long-term midfield partner for main man Bruno Guimaraes.
Shelvey left Newcastle to join Nottingham Forest on Tuesday (31 January) after spending seven years at St James' Park.
Newcastle were unable to sign a replacement for the former Swansea man before the window shut.
The Magpies' only senior winter signing was Anthony Gordon, who made his debut in Saturday's (4 February) 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Newcastle are next in action against Bournemouth next weekend (11 February).