Former Chelsea player and manager Frank Lampard is eyeing a move for Blues’ midfielder Conor Gallagher this summer, according to reports. The 22-year-old has impressed this season, having spent it on loan with Crystal Palace.
In that time, the Cobham graduate has made 32 Premier League appearances, scoring eight and assisting three for the Eagles in a successful campaign that has seen them not only survive but thrive under Patrick Vieira. Gallagher has been a key component of the Frenchman’s success, earning a debut England national team callup and appearance in that time.
However, with a return to Stamford Bridge looming, questions still surround his future at the club. Manager Thomas Tuchel has already said that he will take a look at him, as well as other loanees, during the pre-season.
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"First of all, they [Gallagher and Broja] will come back because they are our players," Tuchel said in his pre-Leicester press conference. "When we send them on loan, we do this for them but also for us to have better players, more experienced players back.
"They are our players, and I want to have them in pre-season, and then we decide what's going on. It's heavily linked to them, to how they integrate and what they do and what our ideas are for them and what they want to reach."
There have been plenty of suggestions that Gallagher could stay with Palace, should they manage to secure a deal for the midfielder. However, according to talkSPORT, Everton have joined the race to land him for next season.
The report claims that the current Toffees boss, Lampard, is hoping to use his connection with the Blues to land the 22-year-old as part of his squad. His first task, however, will be keeping his side in the Premier League, before any summer plans can be put into place.
The Chelsea icon has already managed to use his connection with the club in the past, landing both Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori at Derby on loan, before managing the pair once again the next season at Stamford Bridge. Whether he could manage to sway that in his favour again remains to be seen, but it could be a coup for the Merseyside club, should they land Gallagher.
