Given that Conor Gallagher has performed better this season than his Chelsea midfield colleagues, why would the team think about letting him go in January? Although Mauricio Pochettino has stated that he wants the 23-year-old to stay, Chelsea may have to sell in order to meet financial regulations.
Conor Gallagher has a few weeks ahead of him that will be very important.
Early in January, Mauricio Pochettino announced that he had confirmation from the Chelsea management that selling players would not be a requirement in order to make new hires in the January transfer window. incredibly subtle overall.
However, with the transfer window dragging on, Gallagher’s status feels incredibly precarious given that he is rumored to be a player who can draw in big money to help balance the books.
Analysis highlights Gallagher’s qualities and demonstrates why Chelsea might be stupid to allow a homegrown player to leave the team at such a pivotal point in Pochettino’s early reign.
How Gallagher is surpassing teammates with large salary
Gallagher has been one of the few bright spots for Chelsea during their disappointing season, which is continuing. Pochettino frequently promotes the midfielder to captain, and his numbers demonstrate why he is worthy of the position.
Gallagher, the academy graduate, has outperformed both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, players who together cost more than £100 million.
Gallagher, 23, has established himself in the Premier League with eight goals and five assists on loan at Crystal Palace in the 2021/22 season and, while he may not be on course to match those numbers, he is still first among all Chelsea midfielders per 90 minutes in the top flight for assists, chances created, final-third passes and take-ons.
Nevertheless, Gallagher is Chelsea’s main offensive player as well as a strong defensive player in the midfield.
Once more, the England international is superior to Caicedo and Fernandez in terms of duels and possession victories. These figures demonstrate the unsatisfactory beginnings to the South American duo’s Chelsea careers, but they also highlight the importance of Gallagher in their partnership.
Poch is aware of Gallagher’s importance to the Chelsea project.
Pochettino has remained unwavering in his belief that Gallagher is essential to the Chelsea team. It’s understandable why. As was previously mentioned, Gallagher is essential to Pochettino’s playing philosophy.
Even though his on-field performance is still a little off, the Argentine’s identity and intention are evident. However, this inexperienced side’s heartbeat, Gallagher, is not to blame for his unwavering dedication.
He is an expert enforcer, roughing up opponents (he has committed at least 13 more fouls than any other player in the league this season, 47) and then making fun of them with a deft pass or bypassing run.
After the Cobham Academy graduate excelled in a more senior role, Pochettino expressed his continued fondness for him, saying: “He’s one of the captains and I’m so happy with him.” Conor is a player we can rely on if he is performing for me, which indicates he is playing. He is part of our strategy.”
It’s unclear if that was a request to Chelsea’s owners, but it’s difficult to understand how the Blues and Pochettino himself could afford to lose a player of that caliber.
There is just no replicating shared history. Gallagher’s performances reflect the fact that Chelsea has had him on their books since he was eight years old. His celebration of every victory, no matter how small, and his sorrow over a setback reveal this. It is intimate.
When things get rough, Gallagher is frequently like a man on a mission: while others give up and the outcome looks impossible, he keeps going, trying to save the day at any cost. There aren’t many Chelsea players who are prepared to follow suit.
Spurs are interested in him because of his perseverance, so giving up might be the simpler course of action.
Take a quick trip from west to north London in search of a new beginning. Gallagher isn’t like that, though, and Chelsea still has a lot to win.
Gallagher’s ability to subtly dictate is complemented by his weekly commitment, which is part of his appeal.
Gallagher is by no means a luxury player, though. He is the team’s main motivator and ought to serve as an inspiration to all young players hoping to play midfield in the Premier League.
There will undoubtedly be repercussions if he is sold this month.
WHY DOES CHELSEA WANT TO SELL?
Why, then, is Chelsea willing to sell Gallagher if he has led the team in more than half of their games this year, is statistically their best midfield player, and is obviously part of his manager’s plans?
To put it succinctly, money is involved.
While most football fans may not find much significance in January 15, Premier League clubs will mark the day with a big “X” because it’s when they find out if they met the profit and sustainability rules (PSR) for the previous campaign.
Chelsea may not have complied with what is effectively the Premier League’s version of financial fair play, as Everton has demonstrated, and there are questions about whether they have.
However, the Blues’ accounts for the current season and going forward might already be cause for concern, even if they do meet PSR requirements this year. This is due to Chelsea’s exclusion from the Champions League and the likelihood that they won’t play in Europe for at least another season due to their mid-table position.
With the club spending over £1 billion in the last three transfer windows and no money coming in from UEFA, it becomes very feasible to consider raising funds through the sale of academy graduates like Gallagher.
This is so that the full transfer fee can be shown as profit in the clubs’ accounts since they are completely free to purchase.
Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah, who also graduated from Chelsea’s academy, are examples of this. It’s no accident that Chalobah and Mount were sold last summer, and that Gallagher’s contract is expiring in just eighteen months, meaning there’s not much longer time to sell him.
The unfortunate (some would even say ugly) reality of the modern game is that clubs might be motivated to produce players who can then be sold to make ends meet.
It’s also true that Chelsea may lose one of their best and most well-liked players at a crucial time due to their careless spending, which has put them in this precarious situation.
Though it’s not the plan that Chelsea supporters were presented with upon the arrival of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, the owners may choose to endure the unavoidable fallout from Gallagher’s departure if it keeps major penalties out of the books in the future.
