Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly planning on a second raid on the Blues in as many years with a move for academy starlet Conor Gallagher. The Cobham prospect is currently in the midst of a productive season on-loan with Crystal Palace and is expected to challenge for first-team opportunities next term.
After joining the Eagles at the start of the campaign, he has gone on to make 30 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight and notching five assists. The 22-year-old has also played a considerable role in Palace’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will take on Chelsea. He will not be eligible to play though due to the terms of the loan agreement that took him to Selhurst Park.
Whilst Gallagher has been backed to establish himself in the first team back with the Blues next term, he could potentially have a way out of Chelsea if reports are to be believed. According to TEAMtalk, Jose Mourinho ’s Roma are interested in making a move for the talented midfielder after finding huge success with his former teammate Tammy Abraham.
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The striker quit Chelsea last summer in a £40m move to the Stadio Olimpico and has proved to be a huge success with 23 goals in his debut campaign - breaking the Roma records set by Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella. Whilst it remains to be seen whether the Serie A giants follow-through with their interest in Gallagher - and indeed if the Blues would be willing to let him go - any move would provide Chelsea with a useful transfer injection.
As it stands, the midfielder is valued at just a touch over £19m with transfermarkt. Any fee of that magnitude would likely come in hugely useful in the summer with uncertainty reigning over the ownership situation at Stamford Bridge.
It is expected that new owners could well be in charge by the time the summer transfer window rolls around, so would likely be able to invest in the playing squad. However, any sales would come in useful in Chelsea setting their budget ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Current boss Thomas Tuchel has been hugely complimentary of Gallagher’s form with Palace and hinted that he could be in line for a place at Stamford Bridge next term instead of a move away. Speaking in December, the German said: "We love Conor. We are convinced about him.
"We took the decision for Conor because when we looked at the midfield - Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, N'Golo Kante - he was considered number four in the group. Conor knew this all the way. An opportunity came up where he could clearly see more minutes and more responsibility.”
Gallagher penned a new long-term contract with Chelsea ahead of his loan move to West Bromwich Albion last term, a deal that is set to run until the summer of 2025.
