Conor Gallagher has been urged to remain at Crystal Palace next season instead of heading back to Chelsea when his loan deal expires in the summer.
The 22-year-old has been one of the Premier League’s brightest players this season and has enjoyed a stellar breakthrough campaign in the top-flight with the Eagles in south London. Gallagher has eight goals to his name in a Palace shirt so far and has earned his first three senior England caps under Gareth Southgate thanks to his form.
He’s also helped Palace reach just their fifth FA Cup sem-final in the club’s history where they’ll face his parent club, Chelsea, at Wembley next week. Gallagher won’t be able to play but plenty of the pre-match discussion will be focused on his future and where he might be most likely to be playing his football next season.
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With hopes of being part of Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, regular football must be high on Gallagher’s list of priorities - something which Palace boss Patrick Vieira has often reminded him he is guaranteed at Selhurst Park.
Whether he’ll be afforded the same kind of playing time - only England teammates Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell have played more minutes than him for Palace this season - at Stamford Bridge is another matter though, with Chelsea’s midfield already stacked with world-class talent.
And with any decision having to be made soon as the season comes to a close, Gallagher has been urged by TalkSPORT pundit and former Chelsea striker Carlton Cole to avoid heading back to west London this summer and instead try to continue to work under Vieira at Crystal Palace.
“For him personally, I’d just want to carry on playing, just carry on playing,” said Cole. “I would stay at Palace. Whether it’s on loan for another year or you get bought. It depends on what the scenario is. I just feel he needs to keep momentum and keep on playing. Now he’s got into the England setup by going away from Chelsea so it’s perfect for him, it’s all set up for him.”
But Palace won’t be the only side hoping they can tie Gallagher down to a deal this summer, with Newcastle, Everton and Serie A’s Juventus all reportedly keen on a permanent deal for the midfielder. He’s also been urged by former Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique to head to Merseyside and join the red side of the town.
The Spaniard, who played at Anfield between 2011 and 2016, said he thought Gallagher was a perfect match for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’ s high-energy playing system. With James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago all into their thirties now, the Reds might decide to go hunting for a younger upgrade this summer.
“I will love Gallagher at LFC,” tweeted Enrique. “What a player. Love his quality and the intensity. It will fit perfect in Klopp's style of play.”
