Liverpool may need to double down on Mason Mount’s Chelsea team-mate

Liverpool may need to double down on Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher should they miss out on signing his Blues team-mate Mason Mount this summer. The Reds are reportedly keen to land Mount but could miss out on the England star as Manchester United appear to have jumped to the front of the queue in the race for his signature.

Last month, The Independent reported that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had identified Gallagher as a summer transfer target as he attempts to improve his midfield. The Merseysiders have struggled in the centre of the pitch this season, with midfield trio Fabinho, Thiago and Jordan Henderson all failing to find their top form throughout the campaign.

Chelsea have spent vast sums of money to bring in a whole host of players since Todd Boehly bought the club a year ago. And they are now under pressure to offload a number of their stars to ensure they meet financial fair play requirements.

Gallagher has started fewer than half of the Blues’ Premier League matches this campaign and has only registered three goals and one assist. But his talent and high energy could make him a perfect fit for Klopp’s side.

Liverpool could soon find themselves with a homegrown player quota issue as James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are set to leave the club when their contracts come to an end this summer. And Caoimhin Kelleher and Nat Phillips have also been tipped to follow them through the Anfield exit.

The Reds named just 24 players in their Premier League squad for the second half of the season as they only had seven homegrown players rather than the eight needed to register a full 25-man squad. So Klopp will surely be keen to target players who match the homegrown criteria when the transfer window opens in the summer.

Gallagher has already proved his worth in the Premier League after bagging eight goals and three assists during a successful loan spell with Crystal Palace last season. The 23-year-old was also handed his England debut in a 10-0 World Cup qualifying victory over San Marino. And he has gone on to win another five caps for the Three Lions.

If Klopp does go after Gallagher, he will be hoping the player can reach the heights Mount has hit for Chelsea over the last few seasons. Mount has made nearly 200 appearances for the west London giants and helped the club win the Champions League in 2021 and the Club World Cup in 2022. But, according to The Athletic, the 24-year-old is now leaning towards a move to Old Trafford.

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