Chelsea offer midfielder as part of player-plus-cash deal to sign 25-year-old Barcelona superstar: Reports
Chelsea have reportedly offered midfielder Conor Gallagher to Barcelona in a deal that would see defender Ronald Araujo move the other way. The Blues are hoping to seal a player-plus-cash deal by offering the midfielder to sign the Uruguayan star.
As per a report in Spain (via Football365), Chelsea are keen on signing Araujo this summer as they see him as the ideal replacement for Thiago Silva, who left the club at the end of last season.
The report states that the Blues are prepared to go all the way to sign the central defender, who is also reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United and Bayern Munich. However, Araujo is keen on staying at Barcelona and told the media last month (via BarcaBlaugranes):
“I’m very well, I’m calm. I have a contract until 2026. Now my representatives will meet with the club, but now I am focused on the national team.”
Gallagher has been touted to leave Stamford Bridge this summer as contract talks are reportedly yet to begin despite him having just a year left on his current deal. However, he is currently not thinking of his future and is focused on Euro 2024. He told BBC:
"I'm a Chelsea player right now and I'm just thinking about England and the tournament. It's not difficult. I'm away with England and I couldn't be happier with the position I'm in. I've just been focusing on England. This is the most important thing right now for me and the country."
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Gallagher this summer.
Chelsea urged to keep Conor Gallagher by former player
Joe Cole has urged manager Enzo Maresca to keep Conor Gallagher at the club. He believes that the midfielder is an important player at Stamford Bridge and said on talkSPORT:
“If I was sitting in front of the Chelsea owners, I would be telling them that Conor is arguably the most important player in the dressing room. Before you even talk about what he does on the pitch, he understands the club. During the difficult times you see what a player is worth and Conor was always there and available and driving the team on.
"I think it’s vital for the club to keep him. I’ll admit I don’t understand the financial side of it but purely from a football point of view, he’s in the top-three most important players in the dressing room.”
Conor Gallagher was the Chelsea captain for most of the 2023/24 season as Reece James and Ben Chilwell were out injured.