Reports suggest that Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is on the verge of completing a £34m move to Atletico Madrid, with the player reportedly set to fly to Spain to finalise the deal.
Speculation surrounding Gallagher’s future has been ongoing for several months due to his contract situation, but talk of a possible transfer has intensified in recent days.
Gallagher entered the final year of his Chelsea contract a couple of months ago, with both him and the club open to extending their partnership. However, negotiations hit a stumbling block as Gallagher wanted a long-term deal, while Chelsea were only willing to offer a two-year contract with a 12-month option.
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reportedly informed Gallagher that he would only be a squad player next season, despite his important role under Mauricio Pochettino. There were even rumors that Gallagher had been banished from the first-team facilities.
Despite Chelsea’s attempts to extend Gallagher’s contract, Atletico Madrid managed to secure a £34m deal for the midfielder. Diego Simeone’s side fought hard to convince Gallagher to leave Chelsea, and the player has reportedly agreed to a five-year contract with the Spanish giants.
Gallagher will undergo a medical and finalise his move to Atletico Madrid on Monday, despite late interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. The 24-year-old rejected offers from other Premier League clubs in the hopes of securing a move to Atletico.
With Gallagher set to depart, Chelsea are now looking at potential replacements for the midfielder. Celtic’s Matt O’Riley has been identified as a possible candidate to fill Gallagher’s shoes in midfield, especially now that Atletico Madrid have signed the Englishman.
Gallagher leaves Chelsea with 10 goals and 10 assists in 95 games, winning one trophy during his time at the club. As the saga comes to an end, Chelsea will focus on finding the right player to replace Gallagher in midfield.
