Chelsea 'to demand in excess of £40m for Conor Gallagher'

Chelsea reportedly set an asking price of £40m on the shoulders of midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Last season, the Blues were overly-stocked of options in the centre of the pitch, a consequence of a mass outlay on additions without finding buyers for players already at Stamford Bridge.

However, the dynamic has now changed with each of Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Denis Zakaria, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount no longer at the club.

New head coach Mauricio Pochettino is in a position where he requires at least one fresh face for his engine room with Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo at the top of Chelsea's shortlist.

Regardless of whether the Ecuador international moves to the West Londoners or not, speculation persists regarding the future of Gallagher, who is currently best placed to partner Enzo Fernandez.

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The 23-year-old endured a mixed first campaign in the first team, making 21 starts and 24 substitute outings in all competitions and chipping in with three goals in the Premier League.

As a result of never cementing a place in the senior XI, Gallagher has regularly been mentioned as a player who Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are prepared to sell in order to boost the club's FFP position.

That said, according to Sky Sports News, the England international will not be allowed to leave for anything below £40m during the current transfer window.

West Ham United have recently been credited with an interest in Gallagher as they look to strengthen their midfield options after the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal.

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Borussia Dortmund were also linked with Gallagher soon after the end of 2022-23, although interest from the German giants appears to have weakened in recent weeks.

Nevertheless, even with Gallagher having less than two years left on his contract, Chelsea are not willing to part ways with the academy graduate on the cheap.

Furthermore, it appears that Pochettino appreciates the value that Gallagher brings to his squad courtesy of being able to be deployed in a number of positions.

The report suggests that a transfer away from his boyhood club will only come to fruition if Gallagher pushes for an exit before the end of August.