Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have reportedly both suffered a blow in their efforts to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
The 24-year-old has just enjoyed the best season of his career, captaining the vast majority of Blues fixtures and starting all but one of their 38 Premier League fixtures.
As a result, Gallagher retained his place in the England squad that was announced for Euro 2024 on Thursday evening.
However, his future remains very much in the air with Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital allegedly insistent that they wish to cash in on the academy graduate.
Gallagher, who has just a year remaining on his contract, is said to be valued in the region of £50m, it currently unclear whether that is a realistic price tag.
If Chelsea wish to sell Gallagher before their next accounting date of June 30, Boehly and Clearlake may have to be open to a compromise, yet it appears an exit from the fans' favourite is far from guaranteed.
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Spurs, Villa may miss out on Gallagher
According to The Guardian, Gallagher is adamant he will not be forced out of Chelsea for a club he does not want to join.
The report suggests that Gallagher will insist on a number of boxes being ticked if he is to contemplate taking on a new challenge ahead of 2024-25.
Spurs and Villa can both offer him football which Chelsea cannot, with the former competing in the Europa League and Villa preparing for a first-ever experience in the Champions League.
Nevertheless, as per sources with knowledge of Villa's interest, Gallagher is in no rush to commit to an exit from a club he has been with since the age of eight.
Gallagher, naturally given his age and reputation, is only prepared to leave for a team that meets his ambitions, while a report in the past has suggested that staying in London is his preference.
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How could Chelsea react to Gallagher stance?
There has always been the possibility of Gallagher digging his feet into pushing for a stay at Chelsea, particularly when Mauricio Pochettino was at the helm.
Central-midfield is also not believed to be a priority for Chelsea in the transfer market, even with Enzo Maresca now the new head coach.
As the report adds, though, Gallagher may not be the best fit for the Italian's possession-based football, with his game more suited to a high-intensity tactic with a high press.
Another factor is the captaincy. Reece James has had his injury issues, as has Ben Chilwell who lost his place at the back end of 2023-24, and passing on the skippers' armband may fall to someone who has had no more than 18 months at the club.
Darren Plant
