Chelsea have told English midfielder Conor Gallagher that he will not be a part of Chelsea plans under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Maresca, 46, reportedly made it clear to the footballer that he doesn’t suit his possessive style of play, hence his decision to freeze him out of the squad.
With his dwindling fortunes in the new dispensation, sources close to the club’s hierarchy revealed the player was called for talks to settle on his future with one year left on his contract.
Meanwhile, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid were interested in a move for him. Reports claimed Chelsea easily accepted Atletico Madrid’s £34m offer but the suitors have yet to settle personal terms with the player.
Chelsea offered a two-year contract to Conor Gallagher
Chelsea initially wanted to keep Conor Gallagher on a new two-year deal but the 24-year-old turned down the offer. It is understood Gallagher’s rejection of Chelsea’s contract did not mean he wanted to leave the club.
According to talkSPORT, the English midfielder did not want a short-term but a lengthy contract that would secure his future at the club. That would have been possible if he was considered a part of the Blues’ new plan under Enzo Maresca but the tides have turned since he left the England star on the frays of things.
Gallagher is known for his fast-paced game with a flair for speedy attack. This has been the bane of his recent misfortunes under Maresca. The former Leicester City boss wants more creative midfielders, who can hold the game in the middle and control proceedings without losing balance.
The likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Romeo Lavia have topped the pecking order under Maresca. While Gallagher is ready to fight for his place in the team, Maresca is not ready to take chances.
Chelsea’s problem with Gallagher
Apart from his inability to fit into Enzo Maresca’s plans, Chelsea’s second challenge with Conor Gallagher is the problem of losing him on a free transfer after next season.
He has one year left in his deal. With no new contract offer again, Gallagher will leave Chelsea as a free agent after next season. This is what Chelsea want to avoid. The club have accepted a £34 million bid from Atletico Madrid but he has refused to agree terms with the La Liga outfit.
There are suggestions, he could be allowed to see off the remaining year of his contract if he still refuses to leave this summer. However, that will not change the fact he will play very little or no role at the club.
What is next for Conor Gallagher?
Conor Gallagher is at a crossroads in his Chelsea career. From the foregoing, it is evident he won’t play a big role at the club going forward. Should he decide to stay, he may end up wasting a whole season without active football.
Analysts suggest Gallagher’s best option will be reaching an agreement to join Atletico Madrid, where he will easily gel into the team and fit into Diego Simeone’s expressly attacking and fast-paced football.
While he is hesitant about leaving Chelsea, it’s obviously the right time for him to accept a new challenge away from the London outfit to save his career.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have reportedly issued an ultimatum for him to decide on their offer or they withdraw from the deal but the player is said to be unmoved by the deadline and will take his time to explore available options before the final decision.
Conor Gallagher Chelsea career recap
Conor Gallagher is a homegrown Chelsea player. He has been at the club since the age of 8. He rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut in 2019. He has made a total of 95 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals.
Overall, it hasn’t been a good career run with the London outfit. He has been loaned four times to Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace throughout his Chelsea career.
