Report: Eddie Howe keen on 22-year-old Brighton defensive midfielder who John McGinn called 'world-class'

A ball-playing defensive midfielder is high on Eddie Howe's priority list this summer as Newcastle United look to flesh out their squad after an injury-hit season.

Eddie Howe's transfer priorities will no doubt have shifted since he lost two centre-backs with long-term injuries, but a defensive midfielder has been on the wish list for a while, and the latest report from Team Talk suggests that's still very much the case.

The report claims Newcastle are keen on signing 22-year-old Scotland international Billy Gilmour from Brighton and Hove Albion.

It's not the first time Gilmour has been linked to Newcastle, with the Magpies looking into him back in his Chelsea days before his £9m switch to the Seagulls.

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Newcastle could take advantage of the uncertainty around De Zerbi's future

Gilmour has been a regular starter under Roberto De Zerbi and could be Brighton's next huge-profit player following in the footsteps of Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo.

Team Talk didn't mention a potential fee, but given the reputation Gilmour has made for himself, it's likely to be way higher than the £9million they paid for him.

With Roberto De Zerbi's future uncertain and the rumour being that he's going to leave at the end of this season, it could be the perfect time for Newcastle to swoop.

Gilmour was labeled 'world-class' at 20 years old by John McGinn

Gilmour started to turn heads at Chelsea when he was touted as one to watch, and while he never quite cut it at Stamford Bridge, he's gone on to prove himself at Brighton and at International level.

Scotland captain John McGinn even went as far as to label him 'world-class' back in 2021 while he was on loan at Norwich from Chelsea.

Gilmour ticks a lot of boxes for Newcastle, he's young but with plenty of Premier League experience as well as having played in Europe and international level. He's not just a defensive midfielder, but one who can be creative too. He's not as exciting a prospect as Joey Veerman who was linked yesterday, but at 3 years his junior, he could certainly catch up.