Conor Gallagher is nearing a departure from Chelsea after turning down two contract offers this summer, according to multiple credible reports.
With one year remaining on his current contract at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher has been a subject of transfer speculation for much of the past year. Although Tottenham Hotspur showed significant interest last summer, Atletico Madrid is now leading the pursuit, having had a £33.8m bid accepted by Chelsea.
Recent reports indicate that Chelsea extended two contract offers to Gallagher in the past few months. The first offer was made in June, around the time the club rejected an approach from Aston Villa. The second offer, presented more recently, aimed to make Gallagher one of the highest earners among Chelsea’s midfielders, but he declined both.
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Despite Villa’s bid being more financially advantageous, Chelsea are reportedly willing to transfer Gallagher to Atletico for a lower fee, as they prefer not to sell to a direct rival.
Gallagher is yet to finalize personal terms with Atletico Madrid. His future at Chelsea appears uncertain, as players who reached the Euro 2024 final, including Gallagher, Cole Palmer, and Marc Cucurella, have been excused from joining the first team on their pre-season tour of the United States.
Chelsea’s pre-season concludes with a friendly against Inter at Stamford Bridge on August 11, by which time Gallagher may have already left.
Chelsea have bolstered their midfield this summer with the addition of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City for £30m and versatile 21-year-old Renato Veiga from Basel for £11.8m.