Crystal Palace are still eyeing up a potential last-gasp deadline day move for former player Conor Gallagher, journalist Simon Phillips has claimed.

The Lowdown: Gallagher saga rolls on

The Englishman enjoyed an impressive spell on loan at Selhurst Park from Chelsea last season, scoring eight Premier League goals in total and becoming a popular figure.

A return to Palace has been mooted throughout the January transfer window, with Gallagher's playing time more limited at Stamford Bridge in 2022/23 to date.

Tuesday's cutoff has nearly arrived and reports earlier in the day suggested he will remain at Chelsea, but it looks as though there could still be a late twist in the saga.

The Latest: Last-gasp signing?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips claimed that Palace could yet snap up Gallagher at the 11th hour if the Blues can sign Benfica's Enzo Fernandez:

"Crystal Palace are interested still, in a loan, but Chelsea, at the moment, won’t sanction that until they’ve got Enzo in or another midfielder.

"But they weren’t keen on a loan anyway, they’d rather have a permanent sale, but it is one to still keep an eye on."

The Verdict: Would be inspired business

Bringing Gallagher back to Palace could be an inspired piece of business, with Patrick Vieira arguably lacking someone with his box-to-box qualities in midfield.

The 22-year-old already has 29 goals and 16 assists to his name in his club career, despite his tender years, and he could dovetail nicely behind the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

Gallagher could also eventually join permanently at the end of the season, seeing Palace as the club he can settle at and be a genuine regular at moving forward, having been hailed as 'extraordinary' by Thomas Tuchel in the past.