‘Top, top player’: Conor Gallagher raves about 24-year-old who Chelsea reportedly want to sign

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Conor Gallagher has taken an interview with TalkSPORT as an opportunity to praise West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.

The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, with it well known that he is likely to be on the move at the end of the season.

This fate may also be awaiting Gallagher, after he was strongly linked with a move to a Premier League side in the final days of the January transfer window.

Everton in particular were keen on signing the 23-year-old, launching a £45m bid on the penultimate day of the window.

This has not limited his time on the pitch however. Graham Potter has started him in three consecutive games, with reports suggesting that he will feature again tomorrow.

Gallagher praises Rice

He will be up against Rice that he is, and he has claimed that it is always a challenge facing his England teammate.

He said: “Yeah, of course, me and Dec have played against each other a good few times now in the last few seasons.

“He’s obviously a top, top player so it’s always a challenge for me to play against him. But, yeah, it’s always important to focus on ourselves and to do everything we can to get the three points.”

While Rice is being heavily touted to be on the move in the summer, there will be plenty of choices up for grabs as they look to find the perfect partner to club-record signing Enzo Fernandez.

They registered their interest in Moises Caicedo in January, even making a bid for the Brighton midfielder that was rejected.

With the backing of Graham Potter having managed him before, the Blues may look to return for the Ecuadorian, especially after it became public knowledge that he wants to leave his club.