Conor Gallagher during his loan spell with Charlton Athletic (Getty Images)
According to the Sun, Burnley are interested in signing Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher in the summer transfer window.
Conor Gallagher, 20, has impressed during loan spells with Charlton Athletic and Swansea City this season, contributing six goals and seven assists from 37 appearances in the Championship. He’s currently on loan with Swansea and has registered five assists in 10 games.
The report adds Vitesse Arnhem watched the young midfielder last week and would like to sign him on a season-long loan, with the Dutch club possessing a strong working relationship with the Blues. However, Burnley must beat Vitesse Arnhem to Gallagher’s signature.
The Clarets are unbeaten in their last five games, winning two in the process. They secured a vital point in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the weekend. Sean Dyche’s side are 10th in the table but just six points adrift of 5th-placed Manchester United.
Burnley have managed to score 34 goals so far with Chris Wood (11), Jay Rodriguez (5) and Ashley Barnes (6) doing a meaningful job. Not only scoring goals but also a lack of creativity has been a concern for Sean Dyche, with not a single player consistent enough to assist the strikers. That clearly showcases the Clarets’ issues and Dyche must address it in the summer.
Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood are the two mainstays in the midfield and have played almost every match. Jeff Hendricks has been used in a variety of midfield roles over the last couple of seasons, and while he has performed admirably well, the 28-year-old has managed just two goals and as many assists in 28 games.
Majority of the Lancashire-based outfit’s creativity has come from Dwight McNeil, who has registered two goals and five assists so far this term. That being said, a creative midfielder needs to be prioritised in the summer and Dyche should target Conor Gallagher.
Predominantly a central midfielder, Gallagher is also adept at playing in a deeper role, on the right and as a No.10 and has done so with Charlton and Swansea this season. Such versatility would make him a big asset to Burnley. He has already shown his quality to score as well as assist vital goals in the Championship and help others in and around the forward line.
Gallagher is young and has all the abilities to succeed at a higher level if he continues to perform with the same form. He can develop his game under the watchful eyes of Dyche, who is currently bringing the best out of McNeil at Turf Moor. The 20-year-old would not only add quality to the Clarets’ midfield ranks, whilst bringing competition within the squad next season.
Considering Burnley’s long-standing problems regarding creativity this season, Dyche should definitely sign a progressive midfielder. The club has been missing a solid young goalscoring midfielder for some time and perhaps Gallagher could be that man.
