Crystal Palace launch £27m bid for Chelsea midfielder ahead of transfer deadline

They are keen to be reunited with their former loanee

Updated: July 05, 2023 at 7:20 am GMT+1

Crystal Palace have launched a £27m bid to re-sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, this time on a permanent basis, in the final week of the transfer window.

The Eagles took Gallagher to Selhurst Park on loan last season, where he excelled for Patrick Vieira’s side, catching the eye of Gareth Southgate enough to hand him his England debut in the process.

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The English midfielder managed to grab 8 goals as well as 3 assists from central midfield across 34 Premier League games for Palace, and while the Eagles have added Cheick Doucoure to their side this summer, they are still lacking someone of Gallagher’s profile.

And it seems as though they are intent on making Gallagher their final signing of the transfer window, with the Times reporting that they have tabled a £27m bid to take the boyhood Chelsea fan back to south London, this time permanently.

Crystal Palace v Arsenal - Premier League LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Conor Gallagher of Crystal Palace looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on April 04, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

“Patrick Vieira, the Palace manager, has a close relationship with Gallagher, who wants to ensure that a move can help the 22-year-old earn a place in England’s 2022 World Cup squad”, they add, which could hand Palace a significant advantage over other interested parties, with Newcastle United and West Ham United both thought to be sniffing around.

Could Zaha be used in exchange?

It is expected that Gallagher stays at Stamford Bridge this summer, but Chelsea could sense a market opportunity amid reports that they have switched their focus to Wilfried Zaha in their hunt for a winger, having been rebuffed in their approaches for Anthony Gordon and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.

Zaha is a key player for the Eagles, and with a year left on his contract the forward is likely worth more to Palace than Chelsea would be willing to pay for the Ivorian. However, a part-exchange which would involve Gallagher joining Palace and Zaha heading the other way could be one innovative and interesting solution.