Chelsea’s fondness for extravagant transfer fees, especially during the January transfer window, has seen them create a squad which, on paper, could be one of the most talented in the Premier League.
On the pitch, however, it is a totally different story. Of course, it takes time for players to gel into a new team and environment, and with the Blues securing eight new signings last month, it might take longer than most, but their form under Graham Potter has been poor.
The Blues have won just once in the league this year, and although he will be aiming to be at the club for the long haul, the 47-year-old will need to inspire an improvement from his players – and fast.
If he does make it to the summer with his job intact, Potter must then turn to the club’s academy for future talent instead of splashing the cash in the transfer market. With Conor Gallagher emerging from the youth system to become a member of the first-team squad, it’s evident there is more than enough potential to satisfy the Chelsea manager.
How much is Conor Gallagher worth now?
Under Frank Lampard, Mason Mount was given his chance in the first-team due to the transfer embargo which was placed on Chelsea at the time, and his success will have given many youngsters confidence that they could replicate it, Gallagher included.
Having impressed in the club’s youth academy, registering 30 goal contributions across 92 matches for the U21s and U18s, he gained some much-needed senior experience on loan at Charlton, Swansea, and West Bromwich Albion in the years which followed.
However, it wasn’t until he joined Crystal Palace on loan for the 2021/22 season that he really broke through into the public eye on the biggest stage of them all.
The 23-year-old played 39 times for the Eagles across all competitions, scoring eight goals and recording five assists, which from a central midfield role was even more impressive.
His league displays were of particular interest, earning a Sofascore rating of 7.08/10 while creating five big chances and averaging 1.1 key passes and 1.3 successful dribbles per game, with his attacking abilities made him stand out for the south Londoners.
The 5 foot 11 gem was lauded by journalist and analytics expert Patrick Rowe, who described the midfielder’s best traits to be his “relentless work rate” and “threat in the final third”, which suggests that he can be of great use to Potter.
Indeed, Gallagher has featured 20 times for Chelsea in the league this season, and although his scoring rate has dropped (netting just once), he has still managed to create five big chances and make 0.8 key passes per game.
With his continued improvement comes greater responsibility in this Chelsea team. According to Football Transfers, his market value is now €44m (£39m), and this should only rise as time goes on.
Chelsea have struck gold on Gallagher, and if he somehow falls out of favour at the club, then Potter could make a lavish profit on the midfielder, who came up from the Blues’ academy and therefore didn’t cost them a penny in transfer fees.