by Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a move for Conor Gallagher at the end of the season if the midfielder has yet to agree a new contract with Chelsea.
And Chelsea face a “nightmare” dilemma over a potential player left in the final three transfer windows. According to one expert, the 24-year-old’s transfer value is falling as his contract heads into its final 12 months, but his salary profile is rising.
Chelsea may find they are less aggressive about Gallagher’s potential destination should his contract remain unresolved, having previously sparked deals with the likes of Everton, West Ham United, Fulham and Brighton, ahead of Spurs and Newcastle United .
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino described Gallagher, 24, as “priceless” after the midfielder scored twice against Crystal Palace, the club he spent a season on loan at.
Despite the talks, Telegraph Sport understands that there is still no significant progress on a new contract for Gallagher, who Chelsea had two bids for from Everton accepted in January 2023, on the list of players available in the summer last year and did not rule out selling in the January transfer of this year. window.
Chelsea are still expected to make some sort of contract offer for Gallagher to extend his term, but an agreement is not certain.
Chelsea opened the door for Gallagher to move to Everton in a £45million deal just over a year ago, but the player was not interested in swapping Stamford Bridge for Goodison Park.
Newcastle United also showed an interest in Gallagher during the same window, but, believing they could catch Eddie Howe’s side in the top four, Chelsea did not want to help a formidable opponent at the time.
West Ham United made a similar verbal offer to Everton last summer, but Gallagher was reluctant to move to the London Stadium, and Tottenham’s interest was firm too close to the end of the summer window.
It is understood that while Gallagher was believed to have been offered to the likes of West Ham, Brighton and Fulham last summer, the club were more reluctant to sell him to the likes of Spurs and Liverpool.
When Spurs finally inquired about Gallagher just days before the transfer window closed last summer, they were quoted a price of over £50 million which made a late deal impossible.
Postecoglou with Gallagher fans
Tottenham did not follow up on that interest in January this year, when Pochettino revealed that Gallagher had told him he wanted to stay at the club he started at the age of eight.
But Spurs are ready to make a firm move for Gallagher at the end of the season if his contract is not extended by the summer, with industry experts believing Chelsea will have little choice but to consider selling him to a rival for a relatively small fee. or give him a new contract with higher wages than they were in a previous deal.
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou is a big fan of Gallagher and believes he could fit in perfectly with his energetic style, while the club’s technical director Johan Lange tried to sign the player for his former club Aston Villa several years ago since then.
When trying to put a price on Gallagher to Telegraph Sport, Super Sport, who does not work for Chelsea or any club interested in signing the England international, said: “With a year left on his contract, Gallagher’s clubs will value around for £30 million to £35 million, which is a lot less than Chelsea will feel it’s worth.”
But while his transfer value may have fallen in the eyes of Chelsea’s rivals, his salary profile is rising, according to the sporting director, who said: “Since he has been Chelsea captain, he has been one of the best players this season and there is an English international, then he is worth around £150,000 a week.
“That could put Chelsea in a nightmare position. They may have to pay Gallagher around £150,000-a-week, which from the outside looks more than they want to pay players, agree a new contract with him or sell him to a club they wouldn’t want to deal with. do less than it. They had hoped to get him before that.”
Interestingly, while Reece James and Levi Colwill were quickly handed lucrative new contracts, Chelsea have been much more reluctant to hand Gallagher a new deal so far.
The player did not enjoy his best season last term, when almost every Chelsea player struggled, but he has been Pochettino’s front man this campaign, starting more games under Argentina (23) than any other player in the club.
Gallagher is first for games started, co-started for games played and third for total minutes under Pochettino. He is also first among Chelsea players in tackles, interceptions, possession won, possession won in the final third, duels won, fouls conceded and tackles won. He is second for assists, chances created and chances created from open play.
