Chelsea man gives clear verdict on Everton transfer after £45m bid is submitted – Newcastle also keen
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has reportedly indicated that he does not intend to sign for Everton after the Premier League side made an offer for him.
The midfielder shone while on loan at Crystal Palace last season and his form at Selhurst Park earned him his first senior appearance for England.
Gallagher has made 25 appearances for Chelsea this term but he has been in and out of the team with him only starting nine times in the Premier League.
The Blues are currently building for the future as they are keen to sign young players who have more to give. Galagher is still progressing and could grow to be an invaluable player for his boyhood club.
But they are willing to let him leave this month now that they have renewed their interest in Benfica and Argentina star Enzo Fernandez.
On Monday afternoon, it was revealed that Everton have made a £45m bid for Gallagher.
Fabrizio Romano wrote on Twitter: “Everton have submitted a bid to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea. It’s £40m proposal plus £5m add ons. #EFC Chelsea will make a decision soon as there are also other clubs interested in Gallagher — and player has to decide his future too.”
A report from The Athletic have since revealed that the Blues midfielder is ‘not interested in a move to Everton this window’.
He is ‘not thought to view Everton as a good option for a move’. Given that the Toffees are currently joint-bottom of the Premier League, this is a fair assessment.
Gallagher may well still leave Chelsea this month. ‘Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham United have all expressed interest’ in him in recent times.
Journalist Ben Jacobs is meanwhile reporting that Gallagher is ‘one to watch’ before the January transfer window closes.
It is claimed that Gallagher’s suitors would ‘prefer a loan with an option to buy’ but Chelsea ‘might not be keen to accept that’ before this week’s deadline.
‘If Chelsea do get Enzo Fernandez that might mean Conor Gallagher becomes available on the market. A few clubs have a long-standing interest in him, including Newcastle and Crystal Palace, so that could be one to watch in the final hours of the window,” Jacobs wrote in his column for Caught Offside.
‘I’m told the suitors who’ve looked at Gallagher would prefer a loan, with an option to buy, but Chelsea might not be keen to accept that with a Premier League rival. Still, if an offer pushed close to £40m (in the option or via a permanent deal) there is very possibly going to be movement.’