Patrick Vieira has admitted that Crystal Palace would love to re-sign Conor Gallagher this summer, but admitted that a decision on his future is in Chelsea's hands.
Gallagher has come on leaps and bounds while on loan at Selhurst Park this campaign, registering eight goals and three assists in 34 Premier League appearances. This form was enough to win him the club's Player of the Season gong.
At the awards ceremony for that prize, chairman Steve Parish joked that the supporters could have a 'whip round' to pay for Gallagher's transfer fee.
Now, Vieira has spoken about the midfielder's future, as well as lavishing praise on the youngster for his performances this season.
"The fans love him, I love him and the players in the dressing room respect and love him. I think it was a really good season for Conor," he said during his post-match press conference following the Eagles' 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
"I think what makes us proud as a team and as a football club is that he spent a year with us and he’s leaving this football club as a really different player.
"He’s an international player now. We played our part in that and if you look at the way he played today, he played his part during the season.
Listen now to 90min's brand new podcast, Talking Transfers, with Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth. This week they discuss Man Utd's plans for Cristiano Ronaldo under Erik ten Hag, plus what his stay could mean for United's transfer plans. There's talk on Kylian Mbappe's impending move to Real Madrid, Robert Lewandowski leaving Bayern, Raphinha to Barcelona and Steven Gerrard targeting Luis Suarez.
"It’s a win-win. And now the decision is in his hands and with Chelsea. We are really pleased and happy with the year he spent with us and we wish him good luck and all the best.
"We will keep following and we will have to wait and see what is going to happen. But of course, we may have a player in the squad who could already replace him."
Palace may struggle to get Gallagher back to south London in the summer, with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel already revealing that he wants the 22-year-old to be part of his squad in pre-season.
For more from Matt O’Connor-Simpson, follow him on Twitter
Source : 90min