Midfielder Conor Gallagher of Chelsea has accepted an offer from Atletico Madrid following several days of fervent speculation over his future. On Monday, he has a flight to the capital of Spain to finish his relocation.
The 24-year-old England international has turned down several offers from Chelsea to extend his contract through the summer of 2021; instead, the Blues have urged him to accept Atletico Madrid’s €40 million offer. They aimed to keep him from leaving on a free transfer or signing with Tottenham Hotspur or Aston Villa, two Premier League rivals.
Gallagher had until the end of the week to make up his mind, and in case their attempt to get Chelsea midfielder Javi Guerra fell through, Atletico had even worked out a deal for Valencia’s midfielder. Guerra appears to be back on the market as Real Sociedad and Girona have expressed interest.
Fabrizio Romano first reported the news of Gallagher’s approval, and additional English sources have subsequently verified it. With fierce competition expected for spots this year, Gallagher will reinforce the midfield by signing a five-year contract with Atletico. The positions of Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo de Paul, and Koke Resurreccion on the squad are currently in jeopardy.
With the confirmation of Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth’s acquisitions, Los Rojiblancos now only need to focus on adding a central defender. Gallagher’s arrival completes this list.
