Chelsea's owners reportedly remain against offering a new contract to Conor Gallagher.
After a inconsistent first campaign representing his boyhood club, speculation persisted throughout the summer that the academy graduate could be sold in order to boost the Blues' FFP position.
Instead, the midfielder not only remained part of Mauricio Pochettino's first-team squad, but as a key player who has been handed the captain's armband on numerous occasions.
Gallagher has made a total of 25 starts and three substitute outings in all competitions, being given the most game time of any outfield player.
However, his contractual situation at Stamford Bridge has led to constant talk of a departure, as the England international has less than 18 months remaining on his current deal.
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In ideal circumstances, Gallagher would be handed fresh terms, the likelihood being that the 23-year-old would sign a new contract to continue representing a team that he joined in 2008.
Nevertheless, Chelsea's co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital must find solutions to boost the club's FFP position, a consequence of spending in excess of £1bn across three transfer windows.
That has led to no signings being made this month, with Chelsea only seeing temporary departures for four players and moving David Datro Fofana from Union Berlin to Burnley.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, there has been no progress behind the scenes where Gallagher may be given a new deal.
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The current stance allegedly remains that an offer for Gallagher could be accepted this week or during the summer, providing that it is in excess of £40m.
As it stands, it appears highly unlikely that Gallagher would be tempted into a departure, a scenario that has led to Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja also being made available for the right price.
During what is a quiet January window for Premier League clubs, neither player is attracting the kind of bids that Chelsea want, Chalobah valued around £25m and Broja in the region of £35m.
Loans with options or obligations to buy will be contemplated in those instances, but such circumstances are not expected to be considered for Gallagher when he is regarded as more important to the squad than Chalobah or Broja.
Darren Plant
