Chelsea's efforts to cash in on midfielder Conor Gallagher have reportedly been boosted. Despite enjoying the best season of his career in 2023-24, there has been constant speculation regarding the academy graduate's future.
With just one year remaining on his contract, Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have been pushing to sell the England international. Although Gallagher would prefer to remain at Stamford Bridge, it has become increasingly apparent that a sale looks more likely than another 12 months with the Blues.
Chelsea recently spent £30m on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City and reintegrated Romeo Lavia back into the squad after a season on the sidelines. These moves indicate a reshuffling within their midfield ranks.
Atletico Madrid desperately want Gallagher
At one point, it seemed that 24-year-old Gallagher preferred to stay in London despite interest from new Champions League participants Aston Villa. However, during his time with England at Euro 2024, rumors suggest that he spoke with former Atletico defender Kieran Trippier about potentially switching to Spain.
According to TEAMtalk reports, Atletico are 'extremely confident' they can secure a deal for Gallagher. The La Liga outfit has initiated discussions with Chelsea and is now considered as frontrunners for his signature.
Gallagher is seen as an ideal fit for Diego Simeone's system at Civitas Metropolitano where he could become a first-choice pick in midfield following Saul Niguez’s departure to Sevilla.
Transfer fee going to be big task
The transfer fee remains undetermined. While Chelsea allegedly wants around £40m for their star player, previous reports indicate that Atletico initially bid £17m only. Despite this significant gap between valuations, both parties are expected to reach a compromise at some stage of negotiations.
Chelsea cannot afford to lose Gallagher on a free transfer in 2025, and Atletico needs a new centre-midfielder. The two clubs have previously conducted business together, with Saul having spent time at Chelsea and Cesar Azpilicueta moving to Atletico last summer.
The potential move of Conor Gallagher from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid is an intriguing prospect for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike. It's a story that will continue to unfold in the coming weeks as negotiations progress.
