Crystal Palace could be set to welcome former star Conor Gallagher to their ranks in the final hours of the transfer window, according to reports - with the Eagles believing that he would choose them over any other interested club after becoming a south London favourite on loan four years ago.
Gallagher only moved to Atletico Madrid last summer from Chelsea, in a swap deal for Joao Felix - and although he's not a starting player week in, week out in their side, he has been a huge asset for Diego Simeone. Despite that, he has been linked with a move away from the La Liga giants and Palace could look to take action.
Report: Crystal Palace 'Have Hopes' of Gallagher Return
Conor Gallagher
The report by Alan Nixon on his Patreon states that Palace have 'big hopes' of Gallagher's potential return to Selhurst Park, and they want the Atletico midfielder to come into their ranks, after the loss of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal earlier in the window.
Gallagher is wanted by a whole host of other clubs, but Palace have a strong relationship with the former Chelsea star after he spent the 2021/22 season on loan in south London, becoming a fan favourite at Selhurst Park with eight goals and three assists in the Premier League during his time at the Eagles, being labelled a 'pressing machine' in his time in England.
That means that they believe Gallagher would pick them from any other interested side, should an offer be made - and his arrival would see him become a key player under Oliver Glasner. The Eagles already have a central midfield duo of Adam Wharton and Will Hughes, and so Gallagher will be trusted to come into that and either displace one of them in the pivot, or sit in the hole where Eze has departed.
Having started half of Atletico's games last season, Gallagher could be tough to prise away from the Metropolitano Stadium, but the Chelsea academy graduate has been linked with a move away from the Spanish capital and that means that they could be open to offers for his services.
Tottenham Hotspur are also thought to be interested and weighing up a potential £43million move, whilst West Ham United and Manchester United have also been linked with a move for the hard-working central midfielder. Gallagher played an integral part in Atletico's Champions League run by scoring against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the knockout rounds, becoming a fan favourite in the process, though Palace making him a key player in their system could tempt him.
Sign up to The GIVEMESPORT Reportto get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox.