Chelsea target Arsenal's perfect midfielder as Gallagher replacement

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 5 Aug 2024 14:44 BST
• 10 min read

Chelsea can finally set about looking for a replacement for Conor Gallagher, with the England midfielder finally bound for Atletico Madrid.

The 24-year-old has been persuaded that a move to Spain is in his best interests, and with a year of his contract at Stamford Bridge remaining, he will depart for the fee of €40 million – a price below his true valuation.

While this deal could trigger more transfers for Chelsea – most appealingly a move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen – The Sun and Sky Sports states that the Blues are in the market for a Gallagher replacement.

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Current ETV

Matt O'Riley

M (C)

Celtic

Matt O'Riley

M (C)

Celtic

€11.2M

ETV Range

€8.4M - €14M

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Their eyes have fallen upon Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, who is also wanted by West Ham, according to the reports.

The 23-year-old might have missed out on Denmark’s Euro 2024 squad, but would make an intriguing replacement for Gallagher.

He would arrive initially as a backup player for the midfield, according to data analytics firm SciSports, yet he has the ceiling that would allow him to become a first-team player at Stamford Bridge.

READ MORE: Chelsea have made a HUGE Conor Gallagher mistake

His impact last season at Parkhead was certainly profound as he scored 18 and created another 14 in 37 Premiership appearances at Celtic claimed yet another title.

A box-to-box midfielder with playmaking capacity either from deep or in a more advanced role, the former MK Dons and Fulham man is a versatile figure capable of making an impact at either end of the field.

Indeed, in terms of style he is similar to Gallagher, who would have become peripheral if he had chosen to stay at Chelsea. O’Riley would fill this void in the squad but coming from a lower level would be better suited to doing so.

O'Riley v Gallagher: Playing style 2023/24

Arsenal the optimum move

O’Riley, though, would be better suited with a move to Arsenal, according to SciSports’ Career Advice tool, which selects the Emirates as his perfect destination.

The Gunners receive a huge Club Fit score of 87. This number is calculated by looking at numerous variables, including potential development, immediate playing time, formation and style. Arsenal receive five stars across the board, with the exception of pitch time, which O’Riley would surely be happy to sacrifice to make the step up.

Boasting room for development but also immediate quality, O’Riley would, in many ways, be a smart pick-up for Mikel Arteta’s side.

West Ham, meanwhile, rank 10th on a Club Fit score of 77 and would offer the player strong first-team involvement, with a four-star mark in this regard. They could be seen as a happy medium.

Chelsea fare less well in this regard, with a Club Fit score of 72. This is still a reasonable score yet ranks only 19th among all clubs.

In particular, the Blues fall down on playing time, with just one star. While Gallagher’s exit does increase O’Riley’s prospects in this regards, it also highlights the competition for space in this particular area at Stamford Bridge and raises the question: is he really necessary?

Indeed, this is one of the reasons there is to cast doubt on the rumour.

O’Riley is a nice fit for a Gallagher replacement, but given the England man was dumped for not fitting Maresca’s model, it makes little sense to replace him with a clone.

If Chelsea were to make a move for a player in the Gallagher mould, this deal would make sense, but given that does not appear to be the new manager’s plan, a move to Arsenal would make more sense if the opportunity was to arise.