- Conor Gallagher wants to stay at Chelsea but have contract reflect his worth
- Atletico Madrid and Blues agreed £33million fee but deal is unlikely to progress
- Chelsea are pressing harder to cash in on him now and boost their PSR situation
Chelsea have cut short Conor Gallagher’s holiday and told him he will not be part of the first team dressing room when he returns on Monday.
The 24-year-old England international, who captained Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino last season, has seen the club agree a £33million fee with Atletico Madrid but that deal looks unlikely to progress at this stage.
Although the decision indicates his Chelsea career could now be over, Gallagher is open to staying at his boyhood club should he be offered a longer term deal as per his teammates and Chelsea’s new signings.
Kiernan Dewsbury- Hall for example is a year older than Gallagher but signed a six year contract.
Chelsea offered Gallagher a new contract of two years plus a year’s option after a £57.5m fee was accepted from Aston Villa in June, which he rejected.
Conor Gallagher, pictured here on a previous holiday with Áine May Kennedy, had his most recent break cut short by the club
Gallagher wants his value to be reflected in a contract with Chelsea but the club have told him he will not be part of the first team dressing room
Gallagher is also of interest to Tottenham and he may not fit in Maresca’s (right) system
Todd Boehly and Co are aware of the need to boost the club’s PSR situation
They then offered the same deal last week after the latest offer was received from Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher has never hidden his desire to stay and play for Chelsea but would like a contract that reflects his value and a commitment from all sides.
Atletico Madrid have been pressing for an answer after agreeing the fee with Chelsea but Gallagher has still to be convinced it is right for him.
Tottenham have yet to enter the fray as they concentrate on a striker but are monitoring developments.
Gallagher is a firm favourite with Stamford Bridge fans but the club’s latest actions reflect that they are pressing harder to cash in on him now and boost their PSR situation owing to his homegrown status rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.
From Chelsea’s perspective they are understood to also hold concerns that Enzo Maresca’s system may not suit Gallagher so he would not get as many starts as last season.
Hence their reasoning behind not offering Gallagher a longer-term contract.
Conor GallagherMauricio Pochettino
