Atletico Madrid has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire Conor Gallagher from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old midfielder may depart Stamford Bridge following the recent hiring of Enzo Maresca. Clubs such as Aston Villa and Tottenham have shown interest in Gallagher, who is currently representing England at Euro 2024.
Under Mauricio Pochettino last season, Gallagher started all but one Premier League game and captained Chelsea for the final 12 matches. He concluded the season with five goals and nine assists in 37 league appearances, standing out alongside Cole Palmer as one of the team’s key performers.
Despite his contributions, Gallagher might leave Chelsea this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid is now the ‘most interested club’ in securing his signature. Atletico has reportedly initiated contact with Chelsea regarding a possible transfer.
Diego Simeone is keen to strengthen Atletico’s midfield, and Gallagher is high on their list. While a deal may be challenging due to Gallagher’s high valuation of around £50 million and his contract expiring in a year, Atletico’s interest is serious.
Chelsea has a wealth of midfield talent, including Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos, Lesley Ugochukwu, Omari Kellyman, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The recent £30 million signing of Dewsbury-Hall could influence Gallagher’s future at the club.
If Gallagher remains at Chelsea, he would likely compete for the No.8 role on the right side of Maresca’s midfield trio, with a single sitting midfielder position seemingly destined for Lavia or Fernandez. Maresca, preparing for his first game as Chelsea head coach, plans to implement a system similar to the one he used at Leicester, where Dewsbury-Hall previously thrived.
