Tottenham maintain Conor Gallagher interest amid slow Chelsea contract talks
- Chelsea's contract talks with Conor Gallagher progressing slowly with deal up in 2025
- Blues open to sale if terms cannot be agreed by January transfer window
- Tottenham believe they lead race to sign midfielder if granted permission to leave
Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Conor Gallagher's contract talks with Chelsea having courted the midfielder during the summer transfer window, 90min understands.
Gallagher's current deal at Stamford Bridge runs until 2025, and though the Blues are eager to tie him down to a new long-term contract, talks have not significantly progressed recently.
If a new contract is not agreed by the time the January transfer window opens, Gallagher will enter the final 18 months of his deal. Just as was the case with Mason Mount, who joined Manchester United in July, Chelsea are reluctant to letting their key stars walk away for free or at a reduced price and so would be open to shifting Gallagher once again.
90min revealed back in August that Chelsea were open to selling the midfielder if an offer in the region of £50m arrived.
Tottenham were one of several clubs who enquired about Gallagher over the summer, with Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United and West Ham United making their interest known too.
Gallagher's former coach Thomas Tuchel was also keen on a reunion at Bayern Munich during their window-long search for a new midfielder. The German champions could reignite their interest, while they are lining up a January move for Chelsea teammate Trevoh Chalobah.
But Tottenham believe that Gallagher's preference would be to join them if he were to leave Chelsea in the near future.
Spurs have made a fast start to life under new head coach Ange Postecoglou, going unbeaten during their opening seven Premier League games to open the new season, registering five wins and two draws.
The Greek-Australian has largely depended on a new-look midfield of Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and James Maddison - Tottenham's summer pursuit of the latter was prioritised over one of Gallagher.
The inability to shift Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who was wanted by Atletico Madrid and Fulham, was another key reason as to why Tottenham didn't firm up their interest in Gallagher during the summer.
Meanwhile, Spurs are also keeping tabs on the situation of former Celtic winger Jota, who is in line to leave Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad just months after joining. He is hopeful of being released from his contract, and the Portuguese forward previously worked under Postecoglou at Parkhead.
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