Chelsea Legend Conor Gallagher on the Brink of Exit as Atletico Madrid Close in on Deal
According to a report, Chelsea and Conor Gallagher have reached an agreement for the midfielder to leave the Blues in a cut-price deal. Despite having been a key player for Thomas Tuchel’s side last season, Gallagher has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, with Premier League duo Aston Villa and Tottenham strongly linked with his signature.
Despite Chelsea’s efforts to keep Gallagher at the club, the 24-year-old has rejected a new contract offer from the Blues. The deal included a pay rise that would have placed him on wages comparable to the highest earners in the Chelsea midfield, but Atletico Madrid have stolen a march on Villa and Spurs by entering ‘advanced discussions’ over a deal for the England international.
Chelsea had been hoping to command a fee of £50 million for Gallagher, but it seems Atletico Madrid are willing to pay £34 million to secure his services. Considering Gallagher made 50 appearances for the Blues last season and regularly captained the side in the absence of Reece James, this represents a significant cut in price.
Gallagher’s current deal is set to expire next summer, and it’s clear that Chelsea were willing to cash in on the player while they could. However, Atletico Madrid’s interest has likely put pressure on the Blues to sell and recoup some of the fees they paid for the player during his development.
Enzo Maresca, Atletico Madrid’s Italian gaffer, seemed to hint at Gallagher’s impending departure during the team’s pre-season tour in the United States. When asked about Gallagher’s availability for their friendly against Club America, Maresca responded, "At the moment, Conor will be back with us when we are at Cobham. I think he is already at Cobham or he will be in the next few days to start to do something with Cole (Palmer) and Marc (Cucurella). Then he will train with us. When the transfer window is open, unfortunately, anything can happen. Not only for Conor but for all of the players."
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