Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is attracting significant interest from top clubs, with Atletico Madrid being the latest to join the fray.
The 24-year-old England international has been impressive for Chelsea, becoming an integral part of the team that showed significant improvement towards the end of last season.
Despite Chelsea’s heavy investment in new players like Enzo Fernandes and Moises Caicedo, Gallagher remained a crucial member of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield.
However, with Pochettino’s departure earlier this month, Gallagher’s future at Chelsea is uncertain.
The player was reportedly disappointed by Pochettino’s exit and may not fit into the plans of the new manager, Ezno Maresca.
Tottenham and Aston Villa are still interested in signing Gallagher, but they will face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid, who have made a loan offer for the player.
Chelsea values Gallagher at around £50 million, but Atletico’s loan offer falls short of that valuation.
Maresca is aware of Gallagher’s interest and has identified Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, one of his former Leicester players, as a potential alternative.
However, Leicester is demanding at least £40 million for Dewsbury-Hall, who is also being targeted by Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is still in the market for a new striker, with Jhon Duran of Aston Villa being a prime target.
Negotiations are underway, but Villa is driving a hard bargain, demanding at least one player in part exchange, excluding Gallagher.
Chelsea has other options, including Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion, as they seek to bolster their attack.
Gallagher’s future remains uncertain, with several clubs vying for his signature.
Chelsea’s decision to sell or retain him will depend on their assessment of his value and their plans for the upcoming season.
As the transfer window heats up, fans are eagerly waiting to see how the situation unfolds.
