Unfortunately, this is exactly right. The Abramovich situation has dramatically reduced our chances of signing Gallagher (unless it's persuaded Gallagher himself that Chelsea is no longer where he wants to be and he pushes to come to Palace permanently). The bottom line is that if Chelsea has to sell players, it's the expensive foreign ones who'll go first and the value youth products on far more realistic contracts who they'll build their team around. Gallagher's long term role at Chelsea has become far more central in the past few days.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.