20 June 2024 , 21:22
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Atletico Madrid have had an offer for Conor Gallagher rejected by Chelsea, with the two clubs far apart in their valuation of the England international.
Gallagher, who made 50 appearances for Chelsea last season, could be on the move this summer as the Blues look to balance their books. The 24-year-old came through Chelsea's academy, meaning his sale would count as pure profit.
A number of clubs are said to be interested in Gallagher, including Aston Villa and Tottenham, while Atletico have had a bid turned down by the Blues. According to Spanish outlet AS, Atletico's €20million (£16.9m) offer was rejected out of hand as it is €30m (£25.3m) short of Chelsea's asking price.
The Blues are said to want at least €50m (£42.3m) for Gallagher, which is said to be a 'prohibitive price' for Atletico. However, they are expected to resume talks with Chelsea in the near future in a bid to strike a deal.
The report adds that Gallagher is not the only midfielder on Atletico's radar, with Feyenoord's Mats Wieffer, Atalanta star Ederson and Celtic's Matt O'Riley also being considered. Tottenham's Pierre Emile Hojbjerg is also an option.
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Speaking ahead of Euro 2024, Gallagher insisted he was solely "focusing on England" and not concerned with the rumours about his future. "I'm a Chelsea player right now and I'm just thinking about England and the tournament," he said.
"It's not difficult. I'm away with England and I couldn't be happier with the position I'm in. I've just been focusing on England. This is the most important thing right now for me and the country. I'm hoping I can help the team more on the pitch in this tournament."
Atletico Madrid have had an offer rejected by Chelsea (Getty Images)He also paid tribute to former Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has since been replaced by Enzo Maresca. "I've come a long way this season," Gallagher added. Pochettino has done so much for me. I was sad, sad for him and the coaching staff.
"Credit to Pochettino for what he has done for me. He has given me a lot of responsibility and trust at Chelsea and it puts me in a better position to be a bigger part of the squad for this tournament."