Crystal Palace are reportedly still hopeful of welcoming Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher back to Selhurst Park for a second loan spell.
The 22-year-old was a standout performer in Patrick Vieira's side on loan last season and returned to Chelsea having registered eight goals and five assists in 39 games for the Eagles.
Gallagher helped Palace reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, although he was ineligible to play against Chelsea in the final four, and he started 33 games in the Premier League.
The England international has since returned to Chelsea as he tries to force his way into Thomas Tuchel's first team amid competition from N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Kante and Jorginho were chosen to pair up in the middle during Saturday's 1-0 win over Everton, and Gallagher only came on as a substitute in the final minute of the contest.
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Should Gallagher's situation at Chelsea not improve in the coming weeks, the Daily Mail claims that Palace are open to re-signing the midfielder back to Selhurst Park on another loan deal.
The report adds that Vieira's side would be able to offer Gallagher regular game time ahead of the 2022 World Cup after his performances for the Eagles caught the eye of Gareth Southgate.
Gallagher was named the club's Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season and remains under contract at Chelsea until 2025, but Vieira claimed that there was "no chance" of the Englishman returning to Selhurst Park after his exit.
"At the moment I don't think there is any chance because he is a Chelsea player," the Eagles boss told a press conference in pre-season.
"He did fantastically well for us, but he is in pre-season with Chelsea and honestly we wish him all the best. I don't think there is a way to get him back."
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However, Gallagher could slip further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge if Chelsea are able to wrap up a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
The Netherlands international has been on the radar of Manchester United the entire summer but has so far resisted Barcelona's attempts to offload him to Old Trafford.
The issue of De Jong's deferred wages is still thought to be holding up his exit, but Barcelona are allegedly threatening legal action after finding apparent evidence of criminality in the contract extension he signed in 2020.
Chelsea have already signed Raheem Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kalidou Koulibaly, Omari Hutchinson and Marc Cucurella this summer and are also being tipped to bring De Jong's Blaugrana teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to the Premier League.
The Blues are also keeping a close eye on the development of Peterborough United centre-back Ronnie Edwards, as confirmed by Posh director Barry Fry.
Ben Knapton
