Conor Gallagher’s future at Chelsea appears to be in severe doubt (Picture: Getty)
Conor Gallagher’s stance on leaving Chelsea in the January transfer window has been revealed amid reported interest from Tottenham.
The England international’s future at his boyhood club appears to be in severe doubt despite being promoted to vice-captain by Mauricio Pochettino and starring as one of the Blues’ best players this season.
Chelsea’s need to balance the books after their unprecedented spending spree under their new owners – and the Americans know that selling a home grown player would represent pure profit on their balance sheet.
Reports on Saturday claimed the west Londoners have already entered into negotiations with rivals Tottenham, who came close to signing Gallagher in the summer window, over a potential £50m deal.
However, according to the Evening Standard, Gallagher is expected to turn down any move away from Chelsea in January and he is keen to remain with the Blues.
That will come as a blow to Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou, who has admitted that his squad are ‘nowhere near’ strong enough.
It will also harm Chelsea’s plans to recruit a new striker, with the club looking to use the money from his sale to fund a move for Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen.
Mauricio Pochettino is keen for Chelsea to sign a new striker in January (Picture: Getty)
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Quizzed about Gallagher’s future at Chelsea last month, Pochettino said: ‘That is between the club and the player.
‘I don’t need to talk too much because it is not my decision. He is in the starting eleven in nearly all the games and is one of the captains. For me, he is the type of player that the club needs to have.’
Meanwhile, Pochettino says he is enjoying ‘good communication’ with Chelsea’s sporting directors and the club are ‘more than open’ to improving the squad.
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