There was no case of a caretaker-manager bounce for Chelsea in their 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool, but the Reds will be happy to have taken a point after being exposed several times during the game. Curtis Jones got a rare start as a much-changed team struggled to impose themselves at Stamford Bridge.
One man linked with a summer move to the Reds to make a late appearance in the fixture was Conor Gallagher. The Independent’s Miguel Delaney reported this week that Jürgen Klopp has ‘identified the midfielder as a strong target’. The England international is widely expected to depart the west-London side as they look to trim down their bloated first-team squad.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked goal.com’s Neil Jones for his thoughts on the Gallagher story.
Neil Jones Confirms Liverpool “Talks” Over Mason Mount!
Neil said:
“I think you look at: young, English, available, not out of the stratosphere in terms of money. Going straight into Liverpool’s midfield? No chance. He doesn’t get in Chelsea’s team, who are 11th in the league.
“He was linked in January with Everton, at that level. I think Conor Gallagher would have to be bought if Liverpool couldn’t get other targets.
“I think it would be very underwhelming for Liverpool if you were trying to sell Conor Gallagher as part of this ‘great midfield rebuild’.
“I could understand why Liverpool fans would see that link and go, ‘Oh no!’ That to me is a very red flag Liverpool signing. I don’t think he’s a player that would make anything like the difference they need players to make in the summer. Sorry, Conor!
“Why would he be on Liverpool’s list? He’s English, he’s 23, he’s played in the Premier League, he is energetic, he’s an England international and he won’t cost the earth.”
REDMEN REACTS
Underwhelming is certainly the word! Conor Gallagher is a decent, young England international, but is a rung below Mason Mount and several below Jude Bellingham. The 23-year-old shone on loan to Crystal Palace last season and was described as ‘extraordinary’ for his development by ex-boss Thomas Tuchel, however, he seems more suited to a club of that stature where he can command a weekly starting spot. As paltry as Liverpool’s midfield options seem at this moment in time, most fans would only welcome Gallagher as a fifth or sixth-choice player if the side wishes to compete again at the highest level. This would put him into a similar situation to the one he now finds himself in at Chelsea. Despite being an admittedly good domestic-level midfielder, the only way he will be lining up for the Reds next season would be if several priority targets fall through, something that none of us want to contemplate.
TO HEAR MORE FROM NEIL ON TOPICS SUCH AS KIM MIN-JAE, CLICK HERE
USE CODE ‘JOURNO’ TO GET CAPTAIN MEMBERSHIP FOR 99P FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
