Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl's comments on finding it difficult to find anybody to talk to at Chelsea regarding a move permanent move for Armando Broja might just be ringing clear in the ears of those at Crystal Palace.
The Saints have made no secret about wanting to keep hold of Broja - currently on loan at St Mary’s from the Blues - beyond the summer, either on loan again or by signing him permanently. The ball is firmly in Chelsea's court though, with Broja having signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge prior to linking up with Hasenhuttl on the south coast.
There’s also the added complication of Chelsea’s ongoing takeover, with owner Roman Abramovich having his assets frozen by the UK government which has meant the Blues are unable to buy or sell players while under their current ownership.
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"We all know the situation at Chelsea," Hasenhuttl said on Thursday. "There are a lot of changes there and it is not so easy to find the right person to talk to about futures of players. It is easier to concentrate on your job and what we can do between now and the end of the season. The higher up the table we finish, the more attractive we are for players and this is the goal for the last seven games."
Over in south London, Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira and chairman Steve Parish might be having the same problem with the future of Conor Gallagher, who Vieira has said needs to be playing regular football to aid his development. That is something he is assured of at Selhurst Park where he’s enjoyed a breakout season in the Premier League on loan from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old has scored eight goals and laid on five more in 32 appearances for the Eagles, leading him to earn his first senior England cap in November against San Marino and featuring in both friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast in March. Like Broja, Gallagher is also under a long contract at Stamford Bridge and thanks to his impressive season in red and blue it would be a difficult piece of business to pull off his permanent signature.
"Chelsea talk to me and keep an eye on me," Gallagher told the Evening Standard. "They have loan staff who keep an eye on all the loan players so everyone feels like they’re still part of the club. They speak to me, and they say what they think you can improve on or what you’ve done well, so I’m very fortunate to have Chelsea. It’s nice.
"I haven’t thought about my future at all. I just take every game as it comes, so I’ve not thought too ahead at all. I think in the stage we’re in this season and where Palace are as a team we can’t afford to you know look too far into the future. We got a very important end of the season being in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup now and needing to get points as well, which is very important."
