Dan Cook has revealed on the HLTCO podcast that Crystal Palace have not bid for Conor Gallagher, despite reports to the contrary.
It was reported in The Times on Monday that Palace had lodged a bid in the region of £27.5m for last year’s Player of the Season, who is said to have been on the club’s radar this summer – although that was only thought to be if the player became available on loan.
Palace and Patrick Vieira would likely welcome Gallagher back with open arms given the impact he made on the first team last season, but with the arrival of Cheick Doucouré, it remains to be seen if Gallager would get the same sort of minutes he did last campaign.
However, that may not even come into consideration, as Cook has alleged that a bid has in fact not been lodged by the Eagles for Gallagher, stating that he has ‘every reason to believe’ the reports are not totally accurate.
He said: “The first thing that I want to draw upon today is the reported £27m bid for Conor Gallagher from Crystal Palace. It’s a story that has been doing the rounds since yesterday morning at about half 10/11, I believe. Gary Jacob was the person that first ran with it.
Should Palace try and sign Gallagher?
Yes!
No!
“I’ve had it on pretty good authority that that bid does not exist. Now, I can’t say with 100% certainty that that isn’t the case because I’m not the man who’s putting the bid in, but I’ve, as I say, got every reason to believe that that story is not legitimate.
“I’m not sure exactly how Gary Jacob has arrived at that particular conclusion, I’m not sure who’s told him it, I’m not sure whether or not there is concrete interest from Crystal Palace, whether any bid would just be a straight cash one or whether it would involve a deal for Wilfried Zaha – all of these things are pie in the sky.
“But at the same time, as I just mentioned, I have every reason to believe that the information I’ve been given is legitimate and that that bid does not exist.
“I’m not, you know, an established part of the sports media bubble, here, and I would never pretend to be that.
“But, as and when I am given information that I believe to be completely legitimate, I feel it’s only right that I let you know what I’ve been told.”
TIF Thoughts on interest in Gallagher…
It’s safe to say that Gallagher’s dream of becoming a Chelsea starter has not gotten off to the best of starts having been part of the side who were thrashed 3-0 away to Leeds United two weeks ago and was sent off against Leicester City on Saturday.
Therefore, he may well feel like it may not work out for him at Chelsea and wish to return to the familiar surroundings where he thrived at Selhurst Park, playing 34 times and managing to register 11 goal involvements – a tally only bettered by talisman Wilfried Zaha.
However, with this reported bid not existing according to Cook, it would suggest that nothing is imminent in terms of a Palace return, and with the deadline on Thursday night, something would likely have to materialise very swiftly for it to have any chance of completion.