Chelsea ready to sell Tottenham and West Ham target deemed ‘surplus to requirements’

The Blues are ready to raise yet more cash this summer

July 24, 2023 at 12:55 pm GMT+1

Chelsea are ready to cash in on Conor Gallagher this summer after flirting with the idea for the past 12 months, and London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea are both keen on signing the Englishman before the new season.

Gallagher enjoyed an excellent season on loan with Crystal Palace in 2021-22, earning himself an England debut for his performances. However, in the time since he has largely fallen by the wayside at Stamford Bridge, and has regularly been linked with a move away.

Still just 23-years-old, he has been an active part of Chelsea’s pre-season campaign under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, and has scored in both of his appearances in the USA against Wrexham and Brighton.

Chelsea's Conor Gallagher during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture date: Sunday August 21, 2022. 2JR2G9B Chelsea's Conor Gallagher during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture date: Sunday August 21, 2022. (Alamy Stock Photo)

However, he is deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ thanks to the young midfielders that the Blues already have on their books, and with Pochettino keen to land Moises Caicedo this summer among other midfield additions.

As a result, the London Evening Standard claim that ‘Chelsea have a shortage of senior midfielders but would still let Gallagher go’ and that the Englishman ‘increasingly accepts his need to leave after not being offered a new contract and with only two years left on his current deal’.

He has no shortage of suitors, with Everton having seen a January bid turned down and Newcastle having also previously shown interest in the man valued at around £45m.

This summer, however, the interest is spearheaded by London pair West Ham and Tottenham. The Hammers are ready to overhaul their midfield after netting £105m from the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal and are eyeing up two midfielders, with Gallagher considered one option.

Meanwhile, Pochettino’s former side Tottenham are undergoing their own surgery under new boss Ange Postecoglu, and are on the verge of losing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Atletico Madrid, which will see them need reinforcements in central midfield.