30 January 2024 , 11:10
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For the second transfer window running, Conor Gallagher could be the one to watch on deadline day.
It is by no means certain what will happen - and that makes it all the more interesting on the Chelsea midfielder. Tottenham remain interested in the 23-year-old England international who looks tailor made for Ange Postecoglou’s high energy, pressing style.
They are not the only ones as there has been interest in the past from Newcastle who were keen in the last window but they look hamstrung this time by financial restrictions.
Gallagher is a Chelsea fan, has been at the club since he was eight and ultimately wants to stay at Stamford Bridge. He has enjoyed playing under Mauricio Pochettino who has given him the captain’s armband on occasion. There is mutual respect there.
But Gallagher only has 18 months left on his contract. He would be on one of the old style deals rather than the club’s new practice of giving longer deals on a lower basic wage.
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However, Chelsea have yet to reach agreement with Gallagher as their dilemma is whether to cash in now as they would look for £50m-plus to do a deal.
Gallagher has frequently captained Chelsea this season (Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)Or to give him a mega deal but that would have to be dependant on them believing that Gallagher is of the quality to help them reach where they want to go. And that is to be a title-challenging club in the Champions League in the longer term.
There is also the fact that Chelsea are still looking for a striker and Armando Broja is another home grown talent who could be sacrificed.
Gallagher dug his heels in last summer and made it clear he was staying and wanted to fight for his place. The dilemma is the same again as the window comes to a close.
You have to admire Gallagher’s single-minded attitude. But if a club are “open” to selling you - and Chelsea are - isn’t that telling you something?
It is a complex situation as Chelsea look to raise funds with Gallagher, Broja and also Trevor Chalobah - who is on West Ham ’s radar while AC Milan could look at a loan deal - all being talked about in the last few days of the window.