Conor Gallagher has been set a deadline by Atletico Madrid over a potential transfer after the Spanish giants agreed a deal with Chelsea.
Rumours have been circulating over the last couple of months over the future of the England star, with a plethora of Premier League clubs including Tottenham and Aston Villa all rumoured to have held interest in the 24-year-old.
However it is Spanish side Atletico Madrid who have had a bid of around £34m accepted by Gallagher’s club Chelsea, who also offered the Englishman two contract offers of two years with an additional third.
With manager Enzo Maresca arriving at the club from Leicester City this summer, Gallagher has been told he will only be a squad player as the Italian favours a possession heavy style.
Atletico have reportedly given the England star until the end of the weekend to decide whether he wants to join the club this summer. Aston Villa offered a larger fee at the start of the transfer window to the Blues, only for midfielder to reject the move in favour of staying at Stamford Bridge.
Last campaign, Gallagher ranked second in most assists for the west Londoners in the Premier League, and was ranked highest in interceptions, duels, tackles and possession won.
The 24-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, with Chelsea hoping to avoid a similar situation which they found themselves in with Andreas Christiansen and Antonio Rudiger, who both left the club on frees after running their contracts down.
Now an England international and fan favourite at the Blues, Chelsea would prefer to sell the midfielder to a club abroad rather than a Premier League rival, with the transfer being pure profit due to him being an academy graduate.
Gallagher is set to return to Cobham on Monday, with the rest of the Chelsea squad out on the US tour until Wednesday.
