Conor Gallagher is set to rejoin training at Chelsea’s Cobham facility on Wednesday after returning to London, while his potential transfer to Atletico Madrid remains uncertain.
The 24-year-old England international was spotted at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday and spent five days in a Madrid hotel, but his £33 million move has yet to be completed.
The transfer stalled due to Chelsea’s £34.5 million deal for Spanish striker Samu Omorodion falling through on Sunday because of disagreements over personal terms.
Atletico Madrid must make a significant sale to afford Gallagher after signing Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for £81.5 million on Monday.
While Gallagher’s move is still a possibility, it faces the risk of falling apart.
One potential solution is for Chelsea to sign Portuguese forward Joao Felix from Atletico, which could facilitate Gallagher’s move, but only if a fee is agreed.
Felix, who spent six months on loan at Chelsea in 2023, is open to returning to the club.
However, if an agreement on Felix’s fee isn’t reached, Gallagher’s transfer is likely to fail.
Chelsea is eager to sell Gallagher to avoid losing him on a free transfer, as he has just 11 months left on his contract.
Gallagher, who served as Chelsea’s captain for much of the previous season, played in five matches at Euro 2024.
Atletico had posted a photo of Gallagher at their stadium on Saturday, announcing he was there to “finalise his transfer.”
NANCY MBAMALU
Follow us on:
