Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are both vying to secure Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, despite the hefty price tag associated with his transfer. Gallagher, 24, has only a year left on his current contract at Chelsea, and while the club has tried to extend his stay, they have yet to meet his financial demands.
With Euro 2024 on the horizon, Chelsea faces the possibility of having to sell Gallagher if a new agreement isn’t reached soon. Allowing a valuable homegrown player to leave for free next year would be a significant financial misstep. Although Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to retain Gallagher, the final decision might be out of his hands.
Reliable sources, including David Ornstein, indicate that Aston Villa has already begun discussions with Chelsea about a potential transfer and are negotiating personal terms with Gallagher. Villa manager Unai Emery, preparing for a Champions League campaign, values Gallagher highly and seeks to strengthen his midfield further. The positive relationship between Chelsea and Villa, established through the transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka in 2022, could play in Villa’s favor. Additionally, Chelsea’s interest in Villa striker Jhon Duran might facilitate negotiations.
However, Tottenham is not backing down and intends to make their own bid for Gallagher. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, a long-time admirer of the midfielder, had initially considered signing him during the January transfer window. With Tottenham and Villa both in the race, Chelsea stands a better chance of securing their desired £50 million fee for Gallagher, despite his contract’s impending expiration.
Sky Sports reports that Chelsea’s valuation of Gallagher is based on their belief that he is a more complete player than Mason Mount was at the time of his transfer to Manchester United last year. Mount, who won back-to-back Chelsea Player of the Year awards in 2020/21 and 2021/22, was sold for £50 million plus £5 million in add-ons. Chelsea aims to achieve a similar financial outcome with Gallagher’s transfer.
In summary, as both Tottenham and Aston Villa prepare to make their moves, Chelsea finds itself in a strong position to negotiate a favorable deal for Conor Gallagher. The competition between the two clubs ensures that Chelsea can capitalize on Gallagher’s transfer, securing significant funds for the future.