Tottenham fears grow over Conor Gallagher deal despite Chelsea transfer stance

Tottenham fear Conor Gallagher could be difficult to prise away from Chelsea this summer.

Spurs, Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa are all keen on a move for Gallagher and Chelsea are ready to sell the England midfielder.

But is Gallagher is understood to want to stay at Chelsea and fight for his future at his boyhood club, with interested clubs facing a challenge to convince him to leave Stamford Bridge.

Gallagher is with the England squad at Euro 2024 and has said publicly that he has put any thoughts over his future on the backburner until after the tournament.

The 24-year-old has one year left to run on his Chelsea contract and Blues chiefs are thought to be prepared to sell him this summer as they bid to balance the books.

Any sale for the Chelsea academy graduate would count as pure profit in the Premier League profit and sustainability regulations, of which the deadline for the 2023-24 season expires on June 30.

Chelsea have long since maintained they will not have any issues adhering to those financial rules, despite being open to selling a number of first-team players including Trevoh Chalobah, who is wanted by Fulham.

Gallagher came off the bench and added impetus and energy as England opened their Euros account with an edgy 1-0 win over Serbia on Sunday.

He is pushing to feature again when England take on Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday.

Gallagher is understood to hope that one possible by-product of a strong personal Euros would be to have a positive impact on how he is viewed at Chelsea.

Mauricio Pochettino leaned heavily on Gallagher last season, making him captain 30 times.

New head coach Enzo Maresca’s arrival on July 1 will carry a natural changing of focus, and Gallagher still hopes to convince the ex-Leicester boss of his long-term Chelsea merits.

While Chelsea’s board and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will ultimately have the strongest say on transfers and squad building, Maresca will still play an active role in those processes.

Gallagher has proved dependable, durable and talented in his Chelsea stint to date, and is thought to remain confident he can show his class all over again in the coming season.