Having fielded the oldest average starting XI in the Premier League last season, Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has wasted no time whatsoever in addressing the issue of his ageing Eagles squad in the transfer window.
With highly-rated youngsters Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson already through the door at Selhurst Park, Hodgson looks set to welcome yet another budding starlet to the club in the form of Chelsea’s all-action midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Having spent last season away from Stamford Bridge with temporary spells at Charlton Athletic and Swansea City respectively, Gallagher arrives at Palace on a season-long loan deal as he looks to gain valuable top-flight experience.
The move represents very clever business from parent club Chelsea, who’ve seen the 20-year-old excel in the Championship. Meanwhile, the knowledge and midfield nous he’ll be able to feed on from an abundance of (very) senior midfield stars at Palace could prove to be invaluable in years to come.
While the Eagles and the Blues have enjoyed a healthy relationship in the transfer market in years gone by - with players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Michy Batshuayi earning valuable playing time in south London - sceptics may look at the move and think Hodgson’s style of play could stifle Gallagher’s enthusiasm and evident talent.
However, the Palace boss’ summer business is a clear indication that he intends to adopt a far more expansive style of play next season.
The acquisition of the much sought-after Eze from Queens Park Rangers is a quality addition to the Palace squad, however, the youngster’s unlikely to be afforded a place on the left ahead of Wilfried Zaha (if, of course, he stays) meaning he’ll most probably be played centrally.
That means Hodgson may be set to ditch the rigid 4-3-3 system he’s stuck by in recent years, and a whole new brand of football could be welcomed to Selhurst Park.
So, we know what Palace can offer to Gallagher, but what exactly can the youngster bring to Palace? If you ask Charlton and Swansea fans, they’ve got themselves an absolute wonderkid.
Having been sent out on loan to the Addicks last summer, it didn’t take long to realise Gallagher’s talent was far beyond a club struggling for Championship survival, with Chelsea recalling the England Under-21 international in January after he'd already notched six goals and four assists.
Charlton boss Lee Bowyer described the outgoing midfielder as 'impossible to replace' following the termination of his loan deal, with the club ultimately dropping into League One – despite being five points clear of the relegation zone when Gallagher departed the club.
Charlton’s loss was Swansea’s gain as the youngster’s combative, creative, high-energy displays helped propel Steve Cooper’s side into the playoff spots.
While he may have failed to find the net in his 21 appearances for the club, his seven assists go some way to proving the influence he had at the Liberty Stadium, with fellow loanee Rhian Brewster the beneficiary of Gallagher’s quality linkup play on plenty of occasions.
While his work in the opposition’s half of the field undoubtedly catches the eye, arguably the finest facet of Gallagher’s game is the work done in his own half.
The 20-year-old has a brilliant engine, and his commitment and determination in a challenge was one of the highlights of his brief stay in the second tier.
In a league that can be frantic and too much to handle for a lot of players who’ve been developed in the red velvet world of the Premier League academies, Gallagher proved to have a mature head on his shoulders and his class and temperament was evident throughout the campaign.
The youngster is unquestionably set for bigger things, and Palace could be the perfect stepping stone for him right now as he looks to showcase his talents in England's top tier.
Source : 90min