West Brom boss Slaven Bilic has hailed ‘top man’ Frank Lampard for sending Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher on loan to the Baggies.
The 20-year-old midfielder signed a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge before moving to the Midlands for the rest of the season for vital Premier League experience, and he has announced his delight at the transfer deal.
“There was a lot of interest from the Premier League, which is where I wanted to play this season, but this is where I want to be,” Gallagher told the Baggies’ official website.
“West Brom stood out to me because of the way they played last season. I played against them two or three times and I liked how they approached the game.”
And afer getting the exciting young striker, Bilic has hailed Lampard for the deal: “We’re delighted,” said Bilic on Sky Sports. “I know the player from the Championship last season. He made a huge impact, first at Charlton and then Swansea.
“We were there – it’s not like somebody has told us ‘it’s a difficult league and there’s a player there’ – we were there.
“There was a chance in January we might’ve taken him before he went to Swansea, but it was very difficult and we couldn’t do it.
“When we saw the opportunity, we did it straightaway. I have to thank Frank Lampard – I phoned him, he’s a top man. We’ve known each other since West Ham.
“He helped us with that, but the boy wanted to come. He’s ready to make the next step in his career and he’ll give us something we don’t have, that dynamic in the midfield. “I’m expecting a lot from him. It’s a new level for him; we’re gonna help him, he’s going to help us. Hopefully it’ll be an exciting and pleasant journey.”