One player in particular is someone that Pochettino is eager to hang onto as Chelsea looks to restructure their roster for life under his leadership.
In a heated exchange with a journalist following Chelsea’s victory over Luton
Contrary reports suggest that Conor Gallagher may be leaving Stamford Bridge this month, but if manager Mauricio Pochettino has his way, Chelsea will offer the midfielder a new contract.
That’s according to Blues journalist Simon Philips, who reports that Pochettino is privately trying to persuade chairman Todd Boehly that the England international deserves a new contract. Philips gets his information from fellow writer Rahman Osman.
It has been widely reported that, should they receive a serious offer, the West London club may look to accept one for Gallagher during the January transfer window. However, it seems that the Chelsea manager has a very different perspective and wants to keep his midfield player.
Philips wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Mauricio Pochettino is pushing behind the scenes to ensure the club offers midfielder Conor Gallagher a new deal. [@iamrahmanosman].”
This time last year, Gallagher was the focus of a lot of transfer rumors following a fruitful stint on loan at Crystal Palace. According to reports, Everton tried to sign the 23-year-old on deadline day but the player turned them down.
After that, he was rumored to be heading to Tottenham in the summer, but he changed his mind and chose to stay and collaborate with new manager Pochettino. Gallagher, who has played in 19 of Chelsea’s 20 Premier League games this season, was made captain by the Argentine.
Although the club’s captain may seem unlikely to sell, the sale of an academy graduate would be welcomed as a piece of “pure profit” business, as Chelsea needs to maintain their Financial Fair Play records.
But it seems like Pochettino is more focused on keeping hold of one of his most important players than he is on appeasing the accountants.
Chelsea is trying to establish a team identity following a turbulent 2022–2023 campaign that saw the Blues finish 12th and fail to qualify for Europe.
Additionally, reports suggest that Gallagher would be more than happy to sign a new contract, even as Pochettino works to persuade billionaire owner Boehly to extend one to his captain.
Although Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is still a huge fan of Gallagher, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also stated that Chelsea and Tottenham are not currently in talks to acquire the player.
The Blues, who are presently ranked tenth in the standings, have advanced to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they will face Middlesbrough, a Championship team, over two legs this month.
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