Chelsea have already been warned about selling Conor Gallagher by their former midfielder Frank Lampard. Gallagher has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window despite captaining the side on a string of occasions since the start of the campaign.
Gallagher, who has represented England 11 times and is valued at £34million by Transfermarkt, has become an influential player at Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino and has started all but one of his side’s Premier League matches this season. But, according to the Daily Mail, the Blues are prepared to consider offers for the 23-year-old in the New Year.
Some Chelsea figures are arguing that it makes financial sense to sell the England international, who has 18 months remaining on his current deal, due to the club’s struggles in complying with Financial Fair Play rules and their deficiencies in other areas of the squad.
But Lampard told Monday Night Football in October exactly what Gallagher brings to Pochettino’s team. “He is an amazing character and big talent scoring goals from midfield,” explained Lampard, who played 648 matches for the west London giants and managed them on two separate occasions.
“As a manager you see things that those on the outside of the club don’t and when you talk about players wanting to train at a level every day. Sometimes you pick a team and people say why do you keep playing Conor Gallagher? Because of his desire to play for the club, the desire to raise standards and train hard.
“When I went back to the club he trained every day like he really wanted to show something. Being part-time captain gives him a chance to really kick on with his Chelsea career.”
Gallagher was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer, with the Blues snapping up the likes of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia after already signing Enzo Fernandez at the start of the year. And Tottenham are said to hold an interest in landing the England star in January should he become available.
If Gallagher were to leave Chelsea, he would net the club an instant profit due to his status as a homegrown player and would help them in their quest to sign more players straight away. In contrast, the Blues would have to spread the accounting value of any non-homegrown players they sell over the period of their next contract.
