NEWCASTLE UNITED have signalled their interest in Billy Gilmour and Tammy Abraham – and will attempt to secure a loan deal if Chelsea agree to make either player available for a temporary move next season.

With Steve Bruce working to a limited budget this summer, the Magpies are prioritising potential loan deals as they look to make progress with their transfer business.

They have spoken to Chelsea officials about their interest in Gilmour and Abraham, and while the Blues are currently reluctant to agree to loan moves for either player, there is a feeling that position could change as the summer progresses.

Gilmour is regarded as the likeliest candidate for a loan deal further down the line, with the 19-year-old having been lined up for a temporary exit from Stamford Bridge in January, only for Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel to change his mind at the final moment.

The midfielder, who has been named in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the forthcoming European Championships, is regarded as one of the most exciting teenage talents in the country, but has made just five Premier League starts since breaking into Chelsea’s first team in August 2019.

He was an unused substitute in Saturday’s Champions League final win over Manchester City, and finds himself behind N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic in the battle for a central-midfield starting spot.

Next season is likely to be a crucial one in terms of his development, and Tuchel will have to balance the desire to keep him as part of the squad in order to guarantee midfield cover against the need to ensure the youngster is playing more regular first-team football to aid his progress.

Having enabled Joe Willock to flourish during his loan spell at St James’ Park, Bruce will hope to persuade Tuchel and the rest of Chelsea’s coaching staff that Gilmour would also benefit from a spell in the starting line-up at Newcastle.

The situation with Abraham is complicated by the fact that Chelsea would like to sell the striker this summer. The England international did not even make Tuchel’s 23-man squad for Saturday’s final in Porto, underlining just how far his stock his fallen in the last 12 months.

However, while he does not have a future in West London, Chelsea are understood to be demanding around £40m for his signature. That has priced Newcastle out of the market, but is also regarded as an unrealistic asking price by the forward’s other Premier League suitors.

West Ham have discussed a possible £25m move, but are already preparing to move on to other targets, while Aston Villa and Wolves have also told the Chelsea hierarchy they are not prepared to go anywhere close to £40m in the current financial climate.

Unless they reduce their demands, Chelsea could find themselves unable to sell Abraham this summer, and such an eventuality might well force them to consider a loan move much later in the transfer window. In such a scenario, Newcastle would do everything they could to try to position themselves as an ideal home for the 23-year-old.

The Magpies are aware of interest in a number of their own players, and will have to decide what to do with Freddie Woodman following the end of the goalkeeper’s loan deal at Swansea City.

The Swans lost the Championship play-off final to Brentford on Saturday, but while he was unable to help his temporary Welsh employers make it to the Premier League, Woodman has suggested his long-term future is likely to lie at the Liberty Stadium rather than St James’.

“It’s probably been the best two years of my life playing here,” said Woodman. “I’ve fallen in love with the place and developed so much.

“I just wanted to get over the line for the city. I know how much they wanted us in that big league, so I’m absolutely gutted.

“I hope this isn’t the last game I play in a Swansea shirt. The main thing is to sort out my next step – if that’s in a Swansea shirt then brilliant, but if it’s not, I have to crack on and that’s football.”