Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Crystal Palace - London Stadium, London, Britain - August 28, 2021 Crystal Palace's Conor Gallagher after the match REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
West Ham United have been tipped to enter the race to sign Conor Gallagher this summer by respected football journalist Ryan Taylor.
The lowdown: Busy summer
The Hammers have already spent big during the transfer window and look set to take the expenditure beyond the £125.15million already shelled out over the coming days.
Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta is seemingly on the verge of arriving at the London Stadium, whilst links persist with the likes of Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken and Arsenal outcast Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Now, another name could also be in the mix as a reputable source suggests that the Irons could be among those looking to land 22-year-old midfielder Gallagher prior to the September 1 deadline…
The latest: ‘In the mix’
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor – a journalist for the Daily Express – has backed West Ham to enter the pursuit of the four-cap England star.
He said: “I think there could be movement on that front, but it may hinge on whether Chelsea sign someone.
“If there is movement, I would expect West Ham to be completely in the mix.”
There have been previous suggestions that the Irons hierarchy see Gallagher as this year’s Jesse Lingard, in terms of adding an injection of energy into their attacking ranks.
The verdict: Room for one more?
Having already added Flynn Downes to the midfield department this summer, signing potentially three more central options – Paqueta, Vanaken and Gallagher – could be deemed excessive by GSB.
However, returning from a loan spell at MK Dons last term, Conor Coventry is yet to prove himself at the Premier League level having only played a fleeting six-minute cameo against Manchester City on the opening day.
As such, allowing Coventry to head out on loan once again isn’t necessarily out of the question and could make room for the east Londoners to add Gallagher to Moyes’ ranks alongside Paqueta and Vanaken.
Last season, the Chelsea academy graduate – who was labelled as ‘extraordinary‘ by Thomas Tuchel – scored eight times and provided five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions on loan at Crystal Palace.
Valued at £22.5million and under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), a loan move looks to be the best option at this juncture and would allow all parties to get their squads in order.
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