Conor Gallagher may never play for Chelsea again after shocking ultimatum

Chelsea are reportedly pressuring midfielder Conor Gallagher to accept a £34 million transfer to Atletico Madrid, leaving the England international with a critical decision that could determine his future in the sport.

In a meeting on Friday, Chelsea presented Gallagher with two options: agree to the move to Atletico Madrid or sign a new two-year contract with the London club. Failure to comply with either choice could result in severe consequences, including being barred from training with the first team and using the first-team facilities. Atletico Madrid have set a deadline of Monday for Gallagher to provide an answer.

As Gallagher enters the final year of his contract, Chelsea have intensified their efforts to sell the 24-year-old midfielder. The club have been keen to offload Gallagher since last summer but have struggled to find a suitable buyer. Tottenham Hotspur expressed interest but have yet to make a formal bid, having previously balked at Chelsea's £50 million valuation.

The sale of Gallagher is crucial for Chelsea's financial strategy, particularly in complying with Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the 2023-24 season. As a homegrown player, Gallagher's sale would count as pure profit in the PSR calculation, providing a significant financial incentive for the club.

Chelsea's decision to sell Gallagher is also influenced by tactical factors. The appointment of Enzo Maresca, who favours a possession-based approach, has seen Gallagher fall out of favour. With several midfield alternatives available, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and Roméo Lavia, Gallagher's role in the team's long-term plans has diminished.

The club's handling of the situation has drawn criticism from Chelsea fans on social media. This backlash may have prompted the club to reconsider their approach, with suggestions that they are open to resolving the matter through further talks with Gallagher.

Gallagher is hesitant to leave his childhood club. Last season, under former head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Gallagher was an important player, playing in 37 league matches, scoring five goals, and making seven assists. Despite this, he has turned down a new two-year contract from Chelsea, making the situation more complicated.

Gallagher is not the only player facing uncertainty at Chelsea. Trevoh Chalobah, another academy product, feels he is being pushed out after being excluded from the pre-season tour to the United States. Chelsea have been trying to sell the 25-year-old centre-back for the past year, and his sale would also count as pure profit for the club.

Enzo Maresca, speaking from Chelsea's pre-season tour in the USA, expressed hope for a resolution but did not confirm whether Gallagher had been barred from training. Maresca stated,

"In football, every summer, different clubs have some problems with some players, and then at the end, they find a solution and everyone is happy. Hopefully, the same can happen in this situation."