Conor Gallagher may reportedly request an exit from Chelsea if he falls down the pecking order before January.
During the summer transfer window, there was constant speculation regarding the academy graduate's future, despite featuring regularly during pre-season.
A combination of several factors led to talk that the England international was considered dispensable, most notably due to his progression through the club's youth ranks that would result in any sale go down as pure profit with FFP.
Furthermore, Gallagher has less than two years left on his contract at a time when co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have acquired several new midfielders.
If reports are to be believed, Tottenham Hotspur were interested in the 23-year-old during the closing days of the summer transfer window, only to miss out on a deal.
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Mauricio Pochettino publicly stated that he wanted to keep Gallagher and he has started each of Chelsea's opening six matches in all competitions during 2023-24.
On Sunday, in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell from the starting lineup, Gallagher was also handed the captaincy against Bournemouth, with the game at the Vitality Stadium ending in a goalless draw.
However, despite that show of faith from Pochettino, Football Insider says that Gallagher would be prepared to consider an exit if he does not remain with regular football.
When fit, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo will be regarded as certain starters by Pochettino, a consequence of Chelsea shelling out in the region of £220m on the pair since the turn of the year.
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The other spot in a three-man midfield is up for grabs, but Lesley Ugochukwu and Romeo Lavia have also each been acquired in big-money deals during the off-season.
With Carney Chukwuemeka having started the opening two games of the season before a knee injury, there is every indication that he will be handed the most creative spot in the trio once he has returned to action.
Theoretically, that could leave Gallagher spending more time among the replacements, and the report indicates that Gallagher would be willing to move elsewhere in January if he becomes a bit-part member of the first XI.
Should no new contract be signed by Gallagher, Boehly and Clearlake Capital would almost certainly welcome any realistic bids for a player who has made 27 starts and 24 substitute outings in all competitions since the beginning of the last campaign.
Darren Plant
