Chelsea have reportedly received an official £40m offer from West Ham United for midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Despite having allowed 13 players to depart Stamford Bridge since the end of last season, Chelsea have only added two to their squad in the form of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.
With a number of midfielders included in the players who have left West London, Gallagher has effectively become a senior figure in the engine room.
However, although the 23-year-old has featured in Chelsea's two friendlies against Wrexham and Brighton & Hove Albion over the last week, it has been alleged that the England international has been made available for transfer.
A report has claimed that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are ready to consider offers for Gallagher, a decision that is said to have been accepted by each of Gallagher and head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
© Reuters
That development stems from Gallagher having less than two years remaining on his contract and no negotiations currently taking place with regards to a renewal.
West Ham have recently been credited with an interest in Gallagher as David Moyes searches for reinforcements after the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Hammers have now formally contacted their Chelsea counterparts to lodge a proposal worth £40m.
In the past, it has been suggested that the Blues hierarchy are willing to cash in on Gallagher for a fee in that region, with the club standing to benefit from generating a substantial fee through the sale of an academy graduate.
© Reuters
Any deal would strengthen Chelsea's chances of signing Moises Caicedo as a replacement with Brighton & Hove Albion reluctant to sell the Ecuador international for less than £100m.
Romano adds that Chelsea are currently deliberating over the bid with further discussions expected to take place between the relevant parties over the coming days.
From West Ham's perspective, they are searching a player who is capable of replicating Rice's energy in the centre of the pitch, Gallagher able to offer those qualities albeit without the physical stature of his Three Lions teammate.
As it stands, Moyes currently has Tomas Soucek, Flynn Downes and Lucas Paqueta at his disposal, and West Ham may still look to secure the signing of Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, a former loanee of Chelsea.
Darren Plant
