Sky Sports: Everton battle Newcastle and Crystal Palace, talks on for £45million Conor Gallagher transfer from Chelsea
Everton are ready to commit to £45million to sign Conor Gallagher and all options are still on the table with multiple clubs involved, Lyall Thomas reports.
Having received a cash boost by selling Anthony Gordon to Newcastle the Toffees are ready to send the entire fee to Chelsea for the English midfielder, with Fabrizio Romano reporting Monday (30 January) that the bid has been made.
The Magpies and Crystal Palace are also involved, and negotiations are under way to land Sean Dyche his first signing, although the success of Chelsea’s pursuit of Enzo Fernandez is likely to play a role.
Reporting via Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Thomas wrote: “Everton one of multiple clubs who want Connor [sic] Gallagher. Every option on table – permanent exit, loan or staying at Chelseafc.
“EFC willing to commit £45m to it. Newcastle, Palace also keen.”
On the Sky Sports transfer blog it adds: “Everton are in talks with Chelsea over a deal for Conor Gallagher.
“Sky Sports News has been told Everton have indicated a willingness to pay £40m plus £5m in add-ons to sign him permanently.
“At this point, everything is on the table for Gallagher – a loan, a permanent switch or staying at Chelsea, but a move away is more likely if the Blues complete a deal for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
“Newcastle and Crystal Palace also admire Gallagher.”
Big move
It is a new feeling for Everton fans to see the club suddenly throwing their weight around in the transfer market, especially against Newcastle.
But midfield doesn’t feel like the place that such a big sum needs to be spent right now, given the deficiencies up front.
Gallagher is playing fairly regularly under Graham Potter currently, and proved his quality on loan at Palace last season, but if a huge deal for Fernandez to arrive in England from Benfica is reached it could change the landscape.
With Dyche finally now announced and money brought in via the Gordon sale the club are suddenly very active, with Kamaldeen Sulemana also a target.
But all of this is a lot of movement without addressing the striking issue, so it will be instructive if the Toffees can offer money for a central forward as well.
The midfield three of Amadou Onana, Alex Iwobi and Idrissa Gueye was hard to break under Frank Lampard, but perhaps Dyche has other ideas if he is happy to see big money put on the table for Gallagher, even if it looks a tricky deal to get done.