According to a report from BBC, Chelsea’s stand-in captain, Conor Gallagher, has been a consistent presence in Pochettino’s team this season. The Chelsea manager has consistently lauded the 23-year-old while expressing a strong desire to retain him within the club. Nevertheless, ongoing discussions between the club and Gallagher’s agent suggest that if an appropriate bid is made, the West London club would consider selling.
Gallagher’s Progression At Chelsea
Facing difficulties in the prior season at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher found it challenging to establish a consistent role in the midfield. However, the 23-year-old has shown remarkable improvement lately, displaying newfound stability this season with four assists in 20 appearances across various competitions for the Blues.
This English talent demonstrates averages of 2.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 1.4 shots, 1.1 key passes, and 1.0 dribbles per 90 minutes in Premier League matches. His precision in distributing the ball from the midfield stands out, boasting an impressive 91.5% completion rate of attempted passes in top-tier football (statistics retrieved from whoscored).
Gallagher has entered the final 18 months of his contract, a situation the new ownership group has sought to circumvent with its top talents. Additionally, he has garnered attention from Tottenham and the North London rival club could entertain the idea of making an offer at the end of this season to land him on the cheap but the Blues want to make a profit so they will likely want to sell him in the current transfer window.
Will Pochettino Sanction His Exit?
Gallagher demonstrates an impressive ability to unleash accurate long-range shots and provide pivotal passes in the attacking zone. He adeptly handles the ball and actively engages in defensive efforts in his team’s defensive third. Despite his versatility in offensive and defensive roles, maintaining consistent midfield performances has posed a challenge. His continued presence at Stamford Bridge this season stems from Chelsea’s inability to secure a replacement, either internally or during the previous summer’s transfer window.
Gallagher’s performances have garnered praise from senior figures at the club, particularly given the substantial investments in the midfield position, such as the £106m signing of Enzo Fernandez and the £115m spent on Moises Caicedo. However, despite his current significance to Chelsea and being a product of the academy, his future at Stamford Bridge isn’t guaranteed.
Considering the substantial investments in the squad and the likelihood of limited European football, unless Chelsea win the Carabao Cup, selling Gallagher would yield a significant profit as he emerged from the club’s youth system. Nonetheless, Mauricio Pochettino certainly wants to retain Gallagher’s services as he sees a lot of potential in him, so the Argentine tactician might not be onboard with the idea of selling him in the current transfer window.
