In a recent interview with Give Me Sport, journalist Josh Holland has tipped Aston Villa to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on loan this summer. When asked about Gallagher, Holland said,
“That’d be a move I could see.
“It probably won’t be a permanent deal, they’d have to settle for a loan move, but the logistics of it are whether (Steven) Gerrard and the Villa chiefs would want to loan a rival’s player, making him a better player and then in a year’s time be worse off without him.
“And Chelsea will be benefiting, so that’s one for Gerrard to decide, I’m sure.”
Gallagher’s Impressive Loan Spell At Selhurst Park Last Season
Gallagher enjoyed a decent loan spell at Crystal Palace where he put in a series of eye-catching displays under the guidance of Patrick Viera. The 22-year-old netted eight goals and secured five assists in 39 matches for the Eagles last season across all competitions.
The English talent influenced the game in both halves based on his average of 2.0 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 1.5 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from midfield after completing 81.2% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Is Gallagher A Good Choice For Aston Villa?
Gallagher works hard in closing down the opposition off the ball and can get stuck in with some solid tackles to make life difficult for them at the centre of the park.
The Epsom-born talent can get himself into some dangerous areas in the attacking end of the field and can strike the ball with venom from long range. He has got the vision to play a decisive pass in and around the opponent’s penalty box.
Thus, someone of Gallagher’s skillset will be a good choice for the Villans this summer even if it is on a season-long loan deal. He will no doubt add more goals and creativity to Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard‘s midfield department.
Gallagher could even help the West Midlands club push for a top-eight finish in the Premier League next season. Therefore, Gerrard would be wise to try and lock him down on a loan deal before the end of this transfer window.
