West Ham United are believed to have made contact regarding a deal for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, with Premier League clubs desperate to land the Englishman this summer.
What's the word?
That's according to journalist Simon Phillips - speaking to GIVEMESPORT - who revealed that the Hammers have "made an enquiry" for the 22-year-old, with an exit from Stamford Bridge still potentially on the cards as the end of the window approaches.
He stated: “Crystal Palace are very interested, West Ham made an enquiry in the last week or so about taking Gallagher as well. I think he could get his head turned in the last few weeks and there might be another decision and another conversation that needs to happen.”
The east Londoners have previously been linked with the Blues academy graduate - as well as other top-flight rivals - with the four-cap gem potentially set to cost in the region of £50m.
Moyes' own Kante
A midfield addition has become something of a priority for manager David Moyes having seen Mark Noble call it quits on his playing career, while loan flop Alex Kral departed after failing to earn a permanent deal.
That fact - as well as the failure to land new Everton arrival Amadou Onana - has left the former Toffees boss distinctly short of options in the centre of the park, even after having signed boyhood fan Flynn Downes from Swansea City.
In Gallagher, the Irons would be gaining a player who shone on loan at Crystal Palace last season, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 34 top-flight games for the Eagles, with that form unsurprisingly catching the eye of Three Lions boss, Gareth Southgate.
Something of a midfield throwback as a genuine "box to box midfielder" - as per Zach Lowy - the all-action gem has proven himself to be hugely impactful at both ends of the pitch, notably ranking in the top 7% for pressures made among those in his position across Europe's top five leagues.
That impressive record has unsurprisingly seen him dubbed a "pressing machine" by Mark Duffy, while it also ensures he ranks far higher than the current West Ham midfield duo of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, with the pair only in the top bottom 10% and 11%, respectively, for pressures made.
Clearly a front-footed and relentless midfield presence, Gallagher has also been likened to current Chelsea teammate N'Golo Kante by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino, with that a huge claim indeed considering that the diminutive Frenchman has been the "outstanding" player in his position in the Premier League over the last decade or so - as per Joe Cole.
That comparison is corroborated by their similar statistical record of late, with Kante ranking in the top 7% for dribbles completed and the top 9% for progressive passes received, while his younger teammate is only slightly behind as he ranks in the top 8% and the top 12% in the same two metrics.
That fact illustrates that both have the dribbling ability to drive their side up the pitch from their central berth, as well as sparking attacks with progressive, forward passes, proving an invaluable link between midfield and attack.
Although it could take a sizeable offer to do, Moyes would surely love to have his own Kante figure in tow if he can sign Gallagher before the September deadline.