Stephen Warnock predicts Conor Gallagher could be sold by Chelsea before the end of the summer transfer window.
Conor Gallagher, 23, is a popular midfielder to come through the Blues academy. He played 90 minutes in Chelsea’s opening day 1-1 draw against Liverpool last weekend, too.
However, BBC pundit Warnock is tipping the England international to exit Stamford Bridge in the next couple of weeks:
“It wouldn’t surprise me, and I hope he doesn’t. I’d love him to stay, but I think Conor Gallagher might move on because of the balance of the books,” Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Mauricio Pochettino did include Gallagher in his starting line-up for the first game of the season, but the Blues head coach has welcomed two new midfield options into his squad this week.
The competition for places in the centre of the park has significantly increased with the signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in recent days.
We tend to agree with Warnock that Gallagher’s future may be up in the air right now.
The Telegraph reported earlier this week that Chelsea are ‘likely’ to sell Gallagher in this window.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Twitter in July that Chelsea have put a £50million asking price on Gallagher’s head.
Will any potential buyers be willing to cough up that much, though?
Gallagher looked the part in an unfamiliar deep-lying midfield position against Liverpool, but his greatest strength is in a box-to-box role.
The energetic Englishman can offer so much both going forward and defensively, so using him as a No 8 in the right system should work effectively.
Unfortunately, his roots to the academy mean he would be pure profit on the books if the club to decide to sell.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
