Chelsea are eyeing Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley as a potential replacement for Conor Gallagher, a recent report suggests.
On Friday, it was revealed that Chelsea had warned Gallagher of a possible training ground ‘exile’ if he doesn’t agree to a transfer to Atletico Madrid or another club in the summer. This comes after Gallagher turned down two contract offers from Chelsea.
Should Gallagher leave, Chelsea are looking to bring in a new midfielder, with Celtic’s O’Riley being one of their top targets, as per Sky Sports.
The 23-year-old O’Riley played a crucial role in helping Brendan Rodgers’ side clinch another Scottish Premiership title by scoring 18 goals. Apart from Chelsea, Atalanta and Southampton are also interested in the Danish international, with Southampton’s £14m bid already rejected, according to The Scottish Sun.
Chelsea have reportedly agreed to a £33.8m deal with Atletico for Gallagher, but further negotiations are required to finalize the transfer.
Manager Enzo Maresca has stated that there is currently “no news” regarding Gallagher’s rumored exclusion or his potential move to Atletico.
Maresca mentioned, “The only information I have is that he is in discussions with the club to find a resolution. The club has offered him a new contract, but that’s all I know at the moment.”
He added, “As a manager, my focus is on the upcoming games and ensuring the team is prepared. The priority for me is the matches ahead.”
Reports suggest that Gallagher may have a limited role under Maresca’s new possession-oriented tactics, with emphasis on maximizing the potential of midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, who were signed for a combined £200m.