Conor Gallagher could be on his way back to Crystal Palace with a move to a rival like Newcastle RULED OUT by Chelsea… as the Blues look to make room for incoming £105m midfielder Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher could make a loan return to Crystal Palace after being told he won’t be allowed to join any Premier League rival.
The England star had been linked with a move to Newcastle, but the Blues are unwilling to allow the player to join one of their direct competitors, with the Magpies well ahead in the race for a Champions League spot.
Palace are also in talks to sign out-of-favour Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Arsenal, with Patrick Vieira dipping into the loan market to shore up his midfield.
Conor Gallagher could be set for a reunion with Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace
Gallagher was arguably Palace’s best player last season during his loan spell at the club, and had looked set for a more regular role at Chelsea this term.
However he has struggled for regular minutes under Graham Potter, and averages just 41 minutes per appearance from his 18 Premier League outings.
The 22-year-old has scored just once for the Blues this term, a long-range effort that came against the Eagles in a 14-minute cameo back in October.
Potter’s side are also in a protracted move to bring Benfica’s World Cup winning star Enzo Fernandez to Stamford Bridge, which would create even greater competition for minutes at the club.
Gallagher was one of Palace’s best players last season, scoring eight and assisting three in the Premier League
Gallagher thrived under Patrick Vieira last season and earned a first England call-up
Fernandez’s deal to Chelsea has continued over almost four weeks, and given the £105million fee that the club will need to fork out for the young Argentine, it is likely that he will come straight into the first team.
Gallagher thrived under Vieira with his seemingly incessant energy bringing drive and tempo to the Eagles’ midfield.
The 22-year-old scored eight goals and assisted a further three in 34 league games in a successful loan spell that saw him impress Gareth Southgate enough to earn his first England call-up in November 2021.
