Chelsea face a nervous summer as contract talks with midfielder Conor Gallagher continue to stall, according to the Daily Mail.
The 24-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and there has been no progress after months of negotiations.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to retain the tenacious midfielder, but his influence on transfer dealings remains unclear after the sporting directors oversaw previous moves.
Gallagher’s durability is one major reason for Pochettino’s admiration. He has logged the most miles of any Chelsea player this season, even captaining the side in Reece James’ absence.
He has been one of Chelsea’s better players this season. No player has won possession more times in the attacking third in Europe’s top seven leagues this season.
Gallagher has won the most duels for Chelsea this season, while also making the most tackles and interceptions.
The Epsom-born star has netted four goals and has created ten big chances in the Premier League this season.
He may not be the most silky player, but his grit is an intangible asset, and his numbers are consistently improving.
Chelsea insist they value Gallagher, a club academy graduate since the age of eight, but their willingness to sell in the past has alerted rivals.
Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Fulham are interested in the England international.
However, Chelsea won’t be short-changed. The Blues demanded £40 million last summer, and with Gallagher’s stock rising after a strong season, the asking price could be even higher.
Chelsea might need to sell players like Gallagher to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), although the club denies this being a factor.
However, Gallagher’s status as a homegrown talent means he is pure profit under the rules. He is a valuable financial asset.
Losing Gallagher alongside Thiago Silva this summer would be a heavy blow to a Chelsea dressing room already facing a demoralising season.
Common sense says Chelsea need to keep their prized midfielder, but there has been a dearth of critical reasoning at the club over the past couple of years.
