Chelsea’s struggles have been well-documented after they finished 12th in the Premier League last season – a stark departure from their usual dominance.
They appointed Mauricio Pochettino as manager last summer, but he has failed to get a consistent beat out of Chelsea’s inexperienced squad this season.
Despite their continued struggles and inconsistencies, one player has managed to stand out for Chelsea – Conor Gallagher.
Gallagher has been a mainstay in Pochettino’s team, starting 18 out of 19 league games alongside Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
He has been a force in the centre of the park, snapping at opponents’ heels to win the ball back and start attacks for his side.
According to OptaJoe, Gallagher is the only player in Europe’s top five leagues this season with 20+ shots, 20+ chances created, 20+ dribbles completed, and 20+ touches in the opposition box.
He has also recorded 20+ tackles and 20+ interceptions.
The 23-year-old has not scored in the Premier League but has created six big chances while recovering the ball 6.9 times per game.
He is the engine in Chelsea’s midfield, and this engine has been running non-stop all season.
The Epsom-born star struggled with progressive passing and carrying last term, but those numbers have improved drastically.
Despite his stellar showings for Chelsea, a cloud hangs over Gallagher’s future.
Gallagher is reportedly on the transfer list, with the club ready to let him go for offers of around £45-50 million in the January transfer window.
Selling Gallagher at this juncture would be a colossal blunder. It reeks of short-sightedness and the decision would only come back to haunt Chelsea in the future.
It makes no sense to sell Gallagher when he is playing his best football, and in the middle of the season.
Selling him wouldn’t just weaken Chelsea’s already struggling midfield – it would send a worrying message about the club’s priorities.
It is the kind of poor decision-making that has led Chelsea into mid-table mediocrity since the arrival of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium in May 2022.
The Blues need to find a way to agree new terms with Gallagher, who has 18 months left on his deal, or risk losing their player of the season.
