Chelsea star Conor Gallagher could depart Stamford Bridge in the summer. (Image: Getty)
Tottenham have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, with the Blues lining up a replacement for their academy product. Mauricio Pochettino has pleaded with club chiefs to keep hold of the 24-year-old, but Premier League profit and sustainability rules may force their hand into a sale.
Spurs have been long-term admirers of Gallagher, though the Cobham graduate has cemented himself firmly in Chelsea’s first-team plans and even donned the captain’s armband on several occasions this season.
However, Gallagher’s contract expires at the end of next season and the two parties appear no closer to reaching an agreement on an extension. Chelsea run the risk of a valuable asset leaving for free if they go into next year without a new deal for the midfielder, who also represents pure profit on the accounting books in a welcomed boost for their chances of passing the division’s financial regulations.
And TBR Football claim that Chelsea are planning for the future without Gallagher as they eye Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte as a potential replacement. They are keeping tabs on the Uruguayan’s situation after an underwhelming first season in France, having joined amid interest from the Blues nearly a year ago.
Chelsea transfer target Manuel Ugarte in action for Paris Saint-Germain. (Image: Getty)
PSG are prepared to let a handful of their squad members leave to embark on a new era without Kylian Mbappe, including Ugarte, with Luis Enrique still able to call upon the likes of Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Warren Zaire-Emery, Lee Kang-In, Carlos Soler and Danilo Pereira if the former Sporting man departs.
PSG will hope to get their money back on the reported £51million fee they paid for Ugarte less than 12 months ago, with Chelsea’s interest remaining despite being initially turned down in favour of PSG.
Ugarte is open to the prospect of moving to England this summer, when Chelsea could be in need of more midfield reinforcements should Gallagher depart to Tottenham, with Ange Postecoglou looking for more energy in the middle of the pitch.
Financially, Chelsea would be able to spread Ugarte’s transfer fee across the length of his contract on their books, while Gallagher would provide an immediate cash injection at a time when fellow Premier League teams are being punished.
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But a potential sale of Gallagher would risk upsetting Pochettino, who has stated on several occasions of his desire to keep the former Crystal Palace and Swansea loanee at Stamford Bridge.
“I am not involved, I know nothing, I cannot tell you. I think you can see in my starting XI I think, the whole season, was strong with him,” Pochettino said earlier this month.
“He’s an important player of course. But I’m not involved in the decision, it’s the club and Conor. I’m not involved, that’s a situation that they need to fix between the club and the player.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1900778/Tottenham-Chelsea-transfer-news-Gallagher-Ugarte