Baggies eye loan for Conor
WEST BROM are closing in on a loan deal for young Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
But boss Slaven Bilic’s hopes of landing Mario Mandzukic on a free transfer look to be hitting the skids with the former Croatia striker’s wage demands proving prohibitive.
Gallagher, 20, is keen on the move to the Baggies and it will go through providing Blues manager Frank
Lampard signs off on it.
England Under-21 international Gallagher joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of eight but is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club.
However, he impressed during loan spells with both Charlton and Swansea last season, and Lampard knows he can take his game to the next level at The Hawthorns following West Brom’s return to the Premier League.
While that deal is close,
however, Bilic’s move to sign Mandzukic will fail unless his compatriot agrees to take a huge drop in salary.
West Brom are struggling to justify the 89-cap striker’s demands and his age is also understood to be a factor in the club’s reluctance to push the boat out for him.
Mandzukic, who turned 34 in May, is a free agent after leaving Qatari side Al-duhail and is convinced he can cut it in another top league.
Mandzukic really made his name at Dinamo Zagreb and cemented his reputation at Wolfsburg before earning his move to Bayern Munich eight years ago.
He won two Bundesliga titles, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during a twoyear spell with Bayern and went on to win four Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia’s with Juventus.