Chelsea are reportedly considering a U-turn in their decision to sell Conor Gallagher amid significant interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.
The 24-year-old was one of the Blues standout performers in the 2023-24 season, registering seven goals and nine assists in 50 games across all competitions.
With Reece James and Ben Chilwell missing at various points of the season due to injury, Gallagher also donned the captain's armband on several occasions throughout the campaign.
Despite his impressive performances, the England international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
Reports in recent weeks suggested that Chelsea were asking for around £50m for their academy product, with Spurs, Villa and Atletico Madrid believed to have signalled their interest in the player.
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Chelsea to make U-turn on Gallagher sale?
It was understood that the decision to sell Gallagher this summer was partly due to the club's need to raise funds before the June 30 accounting deadline.
Gallagher came through the youth ranks at Chelsea and a sale would go down as pure profit, which would help the Blues navigate the Premier League's strict Profit and Sustainability Rules.
However, according to The Guardian, there has now been a 'change in noise' around Gallagher's future at Stamford Bridge, with rumours of a possible contract extension for the England midfielder now potentially on the cards.
The report adds the club denied being under any pressure to make player sales ahead of the June 30 deadline.
This comes after the Blues held informal talks with Villa over the possibility of a swap deal involving Jhon Duran.
Should Chelsea fail to tie Gallagher down to a new deal, they could run the risk of him leaving on a free transfer next year, with his current contract set to run out at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
However, the 24-year-old has repeatedly admitted his desire to remain in West London, suggesting that agreeing a new deal would likely be fairly straightforward.
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Gallagher currently focused 'only' on Three Lions' Euro 2024 campaign
Nevertheless, any conversation regarding a contract extension will have to wait for the moment, with Gallagher currently representing England at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Speaking with the BBC on Thursday, Gallagher insisted that he is only "focusing on England" at this time.
"I'm a Chelsea player right now and I'm just thinking about England and the tournament. It's not difficult. I'm away with England and I couldn't be happier with the position I'm in.
"I've just been focusing on England. This is the most important thing right now for me and the country."
Gareth Southgate's side will get their campaign underway on Sunday evening when they face Serbia in their opening match at Arena AufSchalke.
Devesh Jaganath
