Newcastle are pressing ahead with plans to secure a season-long loan deal for Chelsea youngster Tammy Abraham, according to a report in the Northern Echo.
The newspaper claims that Newcastle officials will meet with the 19-year-old’s representatives next week in an attempt to persuade him to move to St James’ Park.
It is said that the north-east club are hoping to make their case for Abraham as quickly as possible and are keen to hold face-to-face discussions, with Brighton another club who have registered a formal interest in the attacker.
Abraham recently concluded a brilliant season with Championship side Bristol City where he scored 23 goals for a struggling south-east outfit as Rafa Benitez’ team went on to win the title.
The report further states that Chelsea are looking to fend off interest in the sale of the prolific attacker by tying him down to a longer-term contract and have given the recently promoted duo formal permission to speak to Abraham’s representatives.
The reason for that is because Blues manager Antonio Conte does not believe the teenager is ready to step up for the Premier League champions but he would still prefer him to gain experience at another top-flight club.
At this moment in time, Benitez has Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez and Daryl Murphy as his attacking options.
Former Crystal Palace man Gayle is the Magpies’ top marksman. He scored the same amount of goals as Abraham this term but because of injuries, he scored the goals in nine fewer matches.