Conor Gallagher rejects two Chelsea contract offers as Atletico Madrid move nears
- Chelsea have twice offered Conor Gallagher a new contract this summer
- Midfielder turned down both deals with only one year left on current contract
- Atletico Madrid have had bid accepted for Gallagher but personal terms still to be agreed
By Sean Walsh
Conor Gallagher is edging towards a Chelsea exit having turned down two offers of a new contract this summer, a number of credible reports have claimed.
The midfielder has one year left to run on his current contract at Stamford Bridge and has been heavily linked with an exit for much of the last 12 months.
Though Tottenham Hotspur were the most interested party last summer, Atletico Madrid are the side pushing ahead with a move for Gallagher this window, and they have seen a £33.8m bid accepted by Chelsea.
However, various reports on Wednesday night claimed Gallagher has actually received two offers of a new contract from Chelsea in the last couple of months, but twice he has spurned their advances.
The first offer came in June, around the same time the club rejected an approach from Aston Villa for his services. Chelsea's second offer came more recently, promising to make Gallagher one of the top earners among their midfielders, but again he wasn't interested.
Though Villa's bid for Gallagher was more lucrative, Chelsea are said to be happy to shift him to Atletico for a lesser fee as they would not be selling to a rival.
Though an exit to Atletico seems likely, Gallagher is yet to agree personal terms with the Spanish giants.
Gallagher may have played his last game for Chelsea, as their cohort of players who reached the Euro 2024 final - which also includes Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella - have been told they do not have to join up with the rest of the first team on their pre-season tour of the United States.
The Blues end pre-season with a friendly against Inter at Stamford Bridge on August 11, by which time Gallagher may have already departed.
Chelsea have at least added to their midfield options this summer, bringing in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City for £30m. Versatile 21-year-old Renato Veiga, who joined for £11.8m from Basel, is also capable of playing in the middle.
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