Conor Gallagher set for West Brom loan after agreeing new long-term Chelsea deal
The 20-year-old midfielder is heading to The Hawthorns after Crystal Palace U-turn
by Alan SmithConor Gallagher will join West Bromwich Albion on loan for the season after putting pen to paper on a new deal at Chelsea.
The central midfielder was expected to join Crystal Palace but that move was aborted last week when Michy Batshuayi returned to Selhurst Park for a second time on loan.
Premier League clubs are permitted to sign only one player on loan from another club and despite everything being put in place for Gallagher to move, Palace boss Roy Hodgson felt a striker was a bigger priority.
That opened the door for West Brom to come in and bring the England Under-21 international to The Hawthorns.
Slaven Bilic's side lost 3-0 to Leicester City yesterdy, their first game back in the Premier League following promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.
Gallagher excelled in the second tier last season, with Charlton Athletic and then Swansea City, but it was felt that a Premier League loan was the best fit for the next stage of the 20-year-old's development.
A dozen clubs, including Leeds United and Aston Villa, had registered their interest in taking him on loan but Albion have won the race.
Bilic, who rates Gallagher very highly, played with Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard at West Ham United.
Gallgher will be the 15th Chelsea player to head out on loan and more are expected in the next month.
Ethan Ampadu, the Wales international who can play at centre back and in holding midfield, could be in line to make his debut for Sheffield United against Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening.
That game kicks off at 6pm, with Chelsea's season opener away to Brighton & Hove Albion kicking off at the Amex Stadium at 8.15pm.
New signings Kai Havertz and Timo Werner are expected to make their debuts for Lampard's team but Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech are injured.
Thiago Silva has only joined training in the past couple of days so is unlikely to be used.