Crystal Palace are reportedly in talks to sign a former Chelsea star as they give the impression of being to interchange Eberechi Eze following his £67.5million transfer to Arsenal.
Eze’s move to the Emirates was confirmed on Saturday, with Palace pocketing a club-record fee for the attacking midfielder who scored the winning the goal in last season’s FA Cup final.
His departure has nevertheless left Oliver Glasner short on fire-power and with just every week left of the summer transfer window to seek out a alternative or two.
Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss and Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis have been heavily linked, but a shock name has now emerged on the Eagles’ shopping list.
Based on News Shopper, Palace are very excited about bringing Conor Gallagher back to Selhurst Park, together with his future at Atletico Madrid doubtful.
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Gallagher enjoyed a improbable loan spell at Palace in 2021/22, scoring eight goals and making five assists, winning Palace Player of the 12 months and being nominated for PFA Young Player of the 12 months.
There have been high expectations when he returned to parent club Chelsea and though the Blues struggled for form, the tenacious midfielder became a fan-favourite and served as captain under Mauricio Pochettino.
He can be an England regular and was a part of the squad that reached the Euro 2024 final, but Enzo Maresca and Todd Boehly weren’t impressed, exiling him from the first-team before selling him to Atletico for £34m last summer.
The 25-year-old performed well in his debut season for the Spanish side, recording 10 goal contributions in 50 appearances, but only began 19 La Liga games.
He began Atletico’s opening game of this campaign but was hauled off at half-time before coming off the bench of their second match over the weekend and in a World Cup yr the Three Lions star must secure regular game time.
It is claimed that initial talks have taken place between Palace and Atletico over a loan move and that Gallagher himself is open to returning to south London.
talkSPORT also report that other Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, are excited about his services but that it’s more likely that he’ll remain in Madrid.
Palace are also defensive reinforcements amid the uncertainty surrounding captain Marc Guehi, who is needed by Liverpool and out of contract next summer.
Fabrizio Romano reports that the Eagles have now entered the race for Toulouse centre-back Jaydee Canvot, who’s valued at around £17m and can be a goal for Aston Villa.
What has Oliver Glasner said about replacing Eberechi Eze?
Palace manager Glasner has repeatedly expressed his frustration regarding the club’s transfer activity this summer, or lack thereof.
But speaking after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, the Austrian suggested Palace have identified the players they need to sign before deadline day:
‘I won’t talk in regards to the players we’d like; it makes it dearer.
‘We wish to be competitive within the Premier League, European football and cup competitions — and whenever you lose one among your top stars, it’s pretty clear you may have to interchange him.
‘That’s what we’re in search of and I’m pretty sure we are going to get it done because now we have already found the precise one.
‘Perhaps we are going to discover a player who’s somewhat bit higher where Ebs has his weaknesses and possibly subsequently not that good where he has his big strengths but showing that form of profile. This player now we have to seek out.
‘We already found a number of of them, and it’s now just getting them to South London.’
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