FIVE Premier League clubs are monitoring Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher in the hope of a possible January transfer.
The 22-year-old has started 10 games for the Blues so far this season, making a further 14 appearances off the bench.
He is competing with a host of options in Graham Potter's squad including Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and Carney Chukwuemeka.
N'Golo Kante and Denis Zakaria are also possible starters when they recover from their respective injuries.
And Gallagher's inability to secure a run of starts in the Chelsea team could see him leave Stamford Bridge this month.
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According to Sky Sports, the club are yet to make a decision on whether to allow him to go elsewhere - although it is understood his departure would likely be in the form of a loan.
The five teams interested in Gallagher are said to be Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Southampton.
England international Gallagher impressed at Selhurst Park last season, contributing eight goals and five assists during his 39-match loan stint at Palace.
He was subsequently called up to Gareth Southgate's squad and has now received four caps.
Patrick Vieira is keen to add to his squad in the January window following four defeats in five games since the World Cup break.
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Speaking about Gallagher on Tuesday, the Eagles manager said: "There's still two weeks to go and I hope we will manage to bring those players to help the teams to be more competitive.
"Conor did really well when he was with us last year and we will be interested in bringing good players to our club.
"Conor is a good footballer, but he's at Chelsea and there's no sign that there is the possibility for him to leave so we can't hope for something that we are not sure to get.
"That means for us it's important to open our mind and look at possibilities around and see what we can do.
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"But again, we will bring the players that we strongly believe can help the team to compete better than what we are doing previously."
However, Palace face a lot of competition if they are to secure his signature.
And the biggest hurdle may well be Gallagher himself - with The Mail reporting that the player has no desire to leave Chelsea.
But that will not stop the likes of Newcastle from attempting to pursue him as they bid to strengthen their hold on a top four spot.
Meanwhile, Forest, Southampton and Everton all wish to sign him to address their issues at the wrong end of the table.