Aston Villa interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher
Aston Villa are among the clubs to have shown an interest in Conor Gallagher as he prepares for what could be his Chelsea farewell.
Gallagher is in line to captain Chelsea for the final game of the season against Bournemouth on Sunday, which may also be his last appearance for the club.
There has been no progress between Chelsea and Gallagher over a new contract, which has left the door open for clubs to make offers for the midfielder when the transfer window reopens.
Tottenham Hotspur have been at the front of the queue of clubs looking at Gallagher and retain a strong interest, with head coach Ange Postecoglou understood to be a big admirer.
But Telegraph Sport understands that Aston Villa, who have qualified for next season’s Champions League, have expressed an interest ahead of what will be an important summer for the club.
There is understood to be a good relationship at board level between Chelsea and Villa, whose young striker Jhon Durán was a target of the London club in January.
It is unclear whether Chelsea retain an interest in Durán, but it is highly unlikely they would consider any sort of swap deal for academy product Gallagher given his sale would count as 100 per cent profit in terms of profitability and sustainability rules.
Like Chelsea, Villa have to be wary of staying within PSR restrictions, which may well limit their summer budget. It could be that any firm move for Gallagher would be dependent on player sales.
Chelsea have previously valued Gallagher at around £50 million and his excellent performances have not diminished his worth. But with one year remaining on his contract, Chelsea’s asking price may have to drop.
Gallagher will be part of England’s squad for the European Championship and is not thought to be in a hurry to make a decision on his future.
While Chelsea will not want to risk him running down his contract, the 24-year-old has not ruled out staying at Stamford Bridge and is unlikely to be pushed into any move he is unsure about.
Tottenham go into the final day of the season only three points ahead of Chelsea and having failed to qualify for the Champions League, which raises the issue of just how attractive a move across London might be at this particular time.
Villa and Spurs are not the only clubs to have registered an interest in Gallagher, who could start speaking to foreign clubs in January about a free transfer move next summer if he did remain at Chelsea.
Gallagher has impressed Stamford Bridge chiefs with his attitude, both on and off the pitch, this season. But, despite his superb displays, there is an expectation he will face greater competition for his place next season.
Christopher Nkunku is expected to start next season as Chelsea’s first-choice number 10, while Enzo Fernández and Romeo Lavia will have both returned to fitness to compete for a place next to Moises Caicedo in the centre of midfield.
Sunday’s game against Bournemouth will definitely be Thiago Silva’s last for the club, while it remains to be seen if it marks Trevoh Chalobah’s farewell. Chelsea tried to see Chalobah last summer and were expected to accept bids for him this year, but the defender has performed brilliantly since stepping in at the back end of this season.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino stated on Friday that he will not make an end-of-season speech to supporters after the Bournemouth game, ahead of Chelsea’s end-of-season review that will decide his future.
Pochettino was once again non-committal on his future ahead of Sunday’s match and, along with Gallagher, was not name-checked in a column written by director Danny Finkelstein in Chelsea’s match-day programme for the visit of Bournemouth.
Finkelstein set out why he is confident Chelsea are heading in the right direction, highlighting Nkunku, Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk.
There was no mention of Pochettino, who has moulded them into a team, or Gallagher, who has captained the side for most of the season and been one of the top performers. But Chelsea insiders insist the omissions of the pair were not intentional or in any way reflective of their futures.
In his column, Finkelstein said: “We have a project. Not just talk of a project, but a real project. We have been buying the next generation of the world’s best football players. And these players are coming to Chelsea. They are turning down other big clubs and big-money offers to come to this one, because they can see we have a project and that others are joining us.”
He added: “Just below the surface are some of the world’s greatest stars in the making. Players are just waiting to play for Chelsea. The future is bright.”
