Senior figures from within the Chelsea squad have made it clear to the club’s hierarchy that they want Conor Gallagher to remain, HITC Football understands.
Gallagher’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge remains far from certain, with his current deal due to expire in 2025, and he has been strongly linked with a move away from the club with Tottenham Hotspur amongst those who would readily take him – if he was available.
The England international has arguably been Chelsea’s top performer under Mauricio Pochettino, who also handed him the captain’s armband in Reece James’s absence but it is believed the club’s top brass have considered allowing Gallagher to leave to help against any possible Financial Fair Play issues in the future.
Ready for contract talks
HITC Football understands that Gallagher and his camp are ready to sit down with Chelsea’s hierarchy and finalise a new contract and he has again made it clear in the last week to them that he does not want to move.
We are also told that it is not similar to the Mason Mount situation – who departed for Manchester United last summer – as Gallagher has not rejected new terms and, indeed, is ready to commit.
This comes as sources confirm to us that some of Chelsea’s senior figures within their squad have made it clear to the club’s bosses that they are ‘not happy’ with how the Gallagher situation has been played out and they would be ‘uncomfortable’ with him leaving.
Pochettino has also made it clear both privately to his bosses and publicly that he wants the situation resolving with Gallagher signing a new contract.
Pochettino makes his feelings clear
“We need to talk about many things. It’s clear that Conor still has one-year-and-a-half on his contract with us and when you arrive at this point, you need to talk and take some decisions for the future,” Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup clash with Preston North End this weekend.
“Those conversations will be between the club and the player. The club is happy with him and he is happy with here.”
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