Chelsea awaiting January bid as summer suitors from Premier League refuse to lose sight of £20m target

Chelsea could receive a bid from Crystal Palace for Conor Gallagher if his situation does not improve by January, according to a report.

Gallagher enjoyed a productive 2021-22 season on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea. As a result, he earned a chance to reintegrate at his parent club this summer. He has been given a few opportunities, of varying lengths, so far.

With three starts to his name, Gallagher has featured in a total of five Premier League matches for Chelsea since his return. He was sent off in the first half of a recent win over Leicester City, though.

Chelsea have since brought in more competition for his place after acquiring the services of Denis Zakaria on loan from Juventus. Hence, it will be interesting to see how Gallagher gets on over the next few months.

He was of interest to a number of other Premier League clubs over the summer. Among the leading contenders to sign him on a permanent basis were Crystal Palace.

However, Chelsea ultimately stood their ground, allowing Gallagher a chance to compete for his place in their first team.

But now, according to The Sun, Crystal Palace are preparing an offer for Gallagher in January. They will monitor how much Chelsea are using him before deciding whether they think there is an opportunity there.

The report claims Crystal Palace will be willing to offer a transfer fee of £20million in an effort to tempt Chelsea into a sale. There may also be add-ons to sweeten the deal.

Interestingly, that figure is lower than their most recent reported bid of the summer. But much will depend on Gallagher’s situation; a lack of gametime could in theory decrease his market value.

Conor Gallagher future still in the balance

From his perspective, the 22-year-old academy graduate is not ready to give up on his hopes of making it at Chelsea. But if opportunities reduce in the coming months, perhaps a return to Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace could appeal.

By that point, the World Cup will have been and gone. Gallagher is currently something of an outsider for a place in England’s squad, but does have four caps to his name since 2021.

It is not known if his international status will have any bearing on a decision over his club future. But for a player of his age, the important thing will be to keep developing – whether with Chelsea or someone else.

His contract at Stamford Bridge is due to run until 2025.

READ MORE: Chelsea to ward off Man City with long-term deal for key man, as talks reach ‘final stage’