Leeds are increasing their interest in a loan move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, a report from The Daily Mail has claimed.
Gallagher enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Championship last season, spending time on loan with Charlton and Swansea, and it now seems as though the midfielder will be given the chance to prove himself in the Premier League this season, with another temporary move away from Stamford Bridge.
According to the latest reports, Chelsea are set to send Gallagher out on loan again this summer, once he has signed a new contract with the club when he returns from international duty with England’s Under 21s.
It is thought that Crystal Palace had been leading the chase for Gallagher, but are now prioritising a loan move for Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, and with Premier League rules preventing clubs from signing two players on loan from the same side, that has opened the door for Leeds to swoop for Gallagher.
As a result, Leeds. who expressed an interest in Gallagher earlier this summer, are now set to step up their pursuit of the midfielder, although they are not alone in their desire to give the 20-year-old a chance in the top-flight, with fellow promotion winners West Brom also keen.
With several high-profile midfielders having been linked with moves to Elland Road in recent weeks, it will be interesting to see how this update affects those pursuits.
Gallagher is not as experienced or established as some of those who have been touted as potential targets for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, meaning this could be more of a risk for Leeds from a football perspective.
However, it would at least be cheaper as a loan move, and establishing a link with a club such Chelsea, who it is fair to say have form for loaning players out, may not be the worst thing for Leeds.