Reliable journalist expects West Brom to complete deal for player admired by Luke Dowling
Express & Star journalist Joseph Masi expects West Brom to sign Conor Gallagher on loan from Chelsea despite interest from Leeds United.
Gallagher, 20, shone in the Championship last season in loan spells at both Charlton and Swansea.
It is understood that West Brom’s sporting director Luke Dowling is a big fan of the England Under-21 midfielder and talks between all the concerned parties should lead to a deal being completed in time for the end of the transfer window next month.
“What I understand is that there have been positive talks between Albion, Chelsea and the representatives of Conor Gallagher,” Masi said on the latest episode of the Baggies Broadcast podcast.
“What I also understand is that there’s other interest.
“Leeds are also keen on him but from what is a good feel to me about Gallagher and Albion, it would not surprise me at all if Gallagher is an Albion player on loan this season.
“Conor Gallagher is a target – simple as that. He’s been someone that Luke Dowling has admired for a very, very long time, he’s been someone that Albion have looked at even before he moved to Charlton and Swansea on loan.
“He tore it up for Chelsea’s youth team, and he’s always been a player Albion have thought, ‘do you know what – he might be worth signing somewhere down the line.’”
Gallagher scored six goals and supplied 11 assists in 47 Championship appearances last season while playing for both Charlton and Swansea.
According to transfermarkt, he played more of a deeper-lying midfield role for the Addicks before joining the Swans in January and being moved into a more advanced midfield position by Steve Cooper.
Gallagher’s form in the second half of the season and after the restart helped Swansea clinch a spot in the play-offs.
It remains to be seen what sort of role Slaven Bilic will want Gallagher to play in his midfield but the England Under-21 international’s versatility in the middle of the pitch means that he’s a strong option for the Baggies boss to have.
In other West Brom news, Kamil Grosicki has reacted to Albion re-signing this player.
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