Thomas Tuchel has been told how to make space for Conor Gallagher upon his return to Chelsea in order to keep the Cobham graduate's hopes of an England call-up alive. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a fruit-bearing season on loan at Crystal Palace, directly contributing to 11 goals in 26 Premier League appearances.
Gallagher, who has emerged as a serious contender for a role in Gareth Southgate's midfield at the upcoming World Cup, has reaped the rewards of his willingness to fetch experience away from Stamford Bridge. Football.london understand that the England international fully expects to return to the Blues in the summer and fight for a first-team spot.
But, while the Evening Standard claims that Tuchel sees Gallagher as the natural heir to N'Golo Kante, there is an abundance of competition that he must wade through before stapling himself as a pillar of Chelsea's midfield. One of them is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is valued at a reasonable £18m, according to Transfermarkt.
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The 26-year-old has been a bit-part player for the Blues this season, yet he still withholds a moment of magic in his locker. Though despite this, speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, Arsenal all-timer Paul Merson tasked Tuchel with the mission of selling Loftus-Cheek so that Gallagher could thrive.
"The only reason Gallagher doesn't stay at Chelsea is because of Ruben Loftus-Cheek's situation," he said. "Chelsea will not bring back Gallagher and still have Loftus-Cheek at the club, especially with Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic and Mount.
"If I was Gallagher, I would stay at Palace with Patrick Vieira and the other youngsters. He suits that."
Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson threw his hat in the ring and sent Gallagher a stern warning. The Cobham graduate was told that if he were to stay at Stamford Bridge next season instead of returning to Crystal Palace, his hopes of travelling to Qatar would be over, amid concerns with suitable game time.
"If he keeps playing at Palace, he goes to the World Cup," Dawson said. "But, if he goes back to Chelsea and doesn't play, then someone else will take his spot."
Tuchel has confirmed that Chelsea will solve the futures of midfield duo Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, who each see their deals at Chelsea expire in June 2023. With the German seeming leaving the door open to exits at the end of the season, then Gallagher's bid for a first-team spot is more than alive.
