Chelsea have been linked with Juventus midfielder Pjanic in a swap deal involving Jorginho. But why do Chelsea need a player like Pjanic when they’ve got players of similar profile who are younger and far more exciting at the club?
Connor Gallagher seems to be the perfect player to bring up to the first team instead of signing Pjanic. The 20-year-old is an promising talent, a typical box-to-box midfielder, full of energy and excels in all areas of the pitch.
Gallagher joined the Chelsea academy when he was eight and was a regular part of both the Chelsea development squads and England’s national youth teams. He won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 and received a call up to England’s U-21 squad last year after being named as Chelsea’s Academy Player of the year for the 2018-2019 season.
He signed a three-year-contract with the club in August last year and joined Championship side Charlton Athletic on loan, where he played over 25 matches for the club scoring six goals and was named as the EFL Young Player of the Month in August. But his loan was cut short and he was sent out to Swansea for the rest of the season in January.
Ex-Charlton player and manager Alan Curbishley talked about the youngsters development during his time at Charlton, “He needs to be playing, Gallagher has shown this season that playing regular football has helped him enormously.”
“Conor can play for Chelsea for sure in the future. He has got box-to-box energy, can find a pass and score a goal. He is a team player and a good lad as well, as I understand it, which helps.”
Until the entry of Frank Lampard as Chelsea’s manager, youth talent rarely got a chance in the first-team. Players were simply sent out on loan or sold while Chelsea brought in big names succeeding elsewhere.
But Lampard has changed that giving chances to several young players to show their skill and talent at the topmost level by placing his trust in them. Players like Mason Mount, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori have hugely benefited and have solidified their place in Lampard’s squad.
Gallagher recently confessed that Lampard was his idol growing up and is aiming for a place in the Chelsea squad next season, “I think it is about time that a manager came in and did that with the Chelsea youngsters. Mason, Tammy and Fikayo have been Chelsea’s best players at the start of the season. It shows that if you give more youngsters a chance they can perform.”
“I hope one day I can work under Frank, because I think he has a lot to teach me. He scored loads of goals and I try to play my game like him, in terms of being box-to-box, scoring goals and making assists. It is how I aspire to be.”
Chelsea have been linked with Coutinho apart from Pjanic as well and such signings could block Gallagher’s path to the first team. While there is no doubt about his talent, he wouldn’t be preferred to start over such experienced players.
With a player like Gallagher in their ranks, Chelsea don’t need to go after Pjanic who is clearly past his prime. Gallagher offers Chelsea an dynamic options, timed runs into the box, and an incredible energy which Pjanic could never offer.
The last thing Chelsea will want to do is bring in a high value signing like Pjanic which could cause Gallagher to move away from the club in search of game-time. Chelsea have done well to keep hold of their academy talent this season and must continue to do so.
