Conor Gallagher has impressed for Chelsea this season, but his future at Stamford Bridge may be up in the air. Tottenham Hotspur have long been linked with the 23-year-old, and Gianluca Di Marzio says talks have begun over a deal.
Di Marzio claims Gallagher has a £40m asking price that Spurs are willing to match, but would Chelsea sell mid-season? The England international has been one of Chelsea’s best players, so Mauricio Pochettino surely won’t want his squad weakened.
Chelsea can’t afford to lose Gallagher
Gallagher has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season, notching four assists. The 23-year-old has missed only one league game for Chelsea, amassing 1511 minutes from a possible 1710, so he’s indispensable.
Gallagher is 1st in the Chelsea squad for assists and 3rd for pass completion (91.3%). He’s 2nd for tackles (2.7 per game), 1st for interceptions (1.4 per game) and joint-third for dribbles (1.1 per game).
Since the start of last season, Chelsea haven’t won a league game without the box-to-box midfielder. They lost to Southampton in August 2022 when he was suspended. They also dropped points to Manchester United in October and Tottenham in February 2023 when he was an unused substitute.
This season, Chelsea lost to Man Utd in early-December when the Englishman was suspended, so it’s clear how important he is.
Means more to play for Chelsea than a rival
Gallagher has made 68 appearances since rising through the youth ranks to the first-team, scoring three goals with five assists. He’s made every England squad since making his debut in November 2021 and has a bright future.
Gallagher is one of the first names on the teamsheet, so he wouldn’t be easy to replace in just 30 days. Clubs opt against selling key players in January as they don’t have enough time to sign a successor.
It’s understandable why Tottenham would be interested, but the midfielder is happy in West London. Playing regularly for his boyhood club surely trumps a sideways move to a fierce rival too.
Chelsea haven’t sold or loaned a player directly to Tottenham since Carlo Cudicini in 2009, so it seems unlikely.
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