- 21 hours ago
Chelsea FORCING star out as Blues enter ‘DANGER TIME’
Robin Bairner
- 2 Aug 2024 21:20 BST
- 4 min read
Conor Gallagher is being forced out of Chelsea, according to Sky Sports.
The future of the England international midfielder has been up in the air for weeks, with his status as an academy player meaning that any sale made would go down as pure profit in the club’s accounts.
While the belief is that Gallagher wants to remain at Stamford Bridge, he has continually turned down contract offers.
READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer rumours
Current ETV
Conor Gallagher
M, DM (C)
Chelsea
Conor Gallagher
M, DM (C)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€37.7M - €62.8M
Chelsea, meanwhile, are eager to sell the 24-year-old to Atletico Madrid.
“It's a really interesting scenario we've got on our hands with regard to Conor Gallagher,” Dharmesh Sheth explained.
“It seems his Chelsea future is in serious doubt.
READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals
“Atletico Madrid have been interested throughout this transfer window but there's been a big gap between what Chelsea want and what they're prepared to pay.
“This week, the situation has come to a head. Chelsea made a third contract offer, for two years and the option for another year. That was turned down by Conor Gallagher.
“His contract is up next summer. That means it's danger time if you're a club who has a player in that position and he's not going to sign a new contract.
“This combination meant Chelsea now lowered their asking price and they found an agreement of around £34 million [€40m] for the sale of Conor Gallagher. From that moment on, the decision was up to him.
“But there's been another twist. Under Enzo Maresca's new style of play at Chelsea, Conor Gallagher is just expected to be a squad player.
“He needs regular first-team football to continue with England. If you look at it on face value, Chelsea are helping Conor Gallagher by lowering their value.
“Cynically, you could look at it another way. Chelsea are trying to force him out of the football club and they have effectively chosen his next club.”
Atleti impose deadline on Gallagher deal
Atletico Madrid are turning up the pressure on Chelsea by imposing an unofficial deadline by which they want a deal for Gallagher concluded.
“Atletico Madrid have given Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher until the end of the weekend to decide if he wants to move there,” Sky Sports add.
“Chelsea do not want the England international to run down his contract and leave on a free next summer.
“The Blues do not want a repeat of the Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christiansen situations when both players left on free transfers.
“Gallagher is due to train at Cobham from Monday with Enzo Maresca's first-team squad in the USA until Wednesday.”
