- Chelsea is actively considering candidates to replace Conor Gallagher.
- The club has accepted a £34.1m offer from Atletico Madrid for the midfielder.
- Gallagher has not yet agreed to the transfer, having already rejected Chelsea’s contract offer.
Chelsea has earmarked Matt O’Riley from Celtic as a potential replacement for Conor Gallagher, pending the midfielder’s expected exit from Stamford Bridge, as per sources.
Gallagher remains a target for Atletico Madrid, which has finalized a £34.1m agreement with Chelsea. However, the player has yet to endorse the move while considering his career options.
At 24, Gallagher has already declined a two-plus-one-year extension from Chelsea, who now view him as a peripheral figure under new head coach Enzo Maresca. He has been informed that he won’t be part of the first-team setup upon returning from his holiday.
Despite being a well-regarded member of the Chelsea squad and having captained the team on several occasions last season under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, Gallagher is now advised that he does not feature in their long-term strategy.
Chelsea’s recruitment team is actively searching for a midfielder to succeed Gallagher, with O’Riley reportedly among the candidates, as noted by Sky Sports.
Chelsea have identified Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley as a potential transfer target
Chelsea has accepted a £34.1m deal from Atletico Madrid for midfielder Conor Gallagher
O’Riley previously scored against Chelsea during a pre-season match in the United States
The 23-year-old recently scored in Celtic’s 4-1 pre-season victory over Chelsea, garnering admiration from Maresca’s coaching staff and transfer team.
O’Riley is also attracting interest from other Premier League clubs, including Southampton, where manager Russell Martin has previously worked with the Denmark international at MK Dons.
Atalanta, the reigning Europa Conference League champions, have already seen bids for the midfielder rejected by Celtic. O’Riley had an impressive season last year, scoring 19 goals in 49 appearances for the Scottish side.
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is eager to strengthen his midfield during the summer transfer window
However, any potential move for O’Riley may hinge on Gallagher’s future, whether he chooses to accept Chelsea’s latest offer, move to another club, or fulfill the remainder of his current contract.
Gallagher’s contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season, and multiple clubs have expressed interest in acquiring the 24-year-old this summer.
Following Aston Villa’s bid for the England international in June, Chelsea offered him a new two-year deal with the option for an extra year.
The midfielder rejected this deal, turning down the same terms again last week after Atletico Madrid had a bid accepted.
