Chelsea Football Club has reportedly turned down a lucrative £40m bid from West Ham United for their talented midfielder, Conor Gallagher.
The 23-year-old has been showcasing his skills during Chelsea’s pre-season tour in the United States, impressively finding the back of the net in wins against Wrexham and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The rejection comes despite Chelsea currently facing a scarcity of senior midfield options after parting ways with multiple players during this summer’s transfer window without securing direct replacements.
Speculation surrounding Gallagher’s future has intensified over the past 24 hours, with claims suggesting that Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, might be willing to capitalize on the player’s potential value in the market.
Gallagher, who has nearly two years left on his contract, has not yet engaged in discussions with the club’s hierarchy about a contract renewal.
Reports suggest that both the player and newly-appointed head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, have accepted the current situation, acknowledging the possibility of Gallagher seeking more consistent first-team football elsewhere.
During the 2022-23 season, Gallagher made a total of 45 appearances for Chelsea, but only 21 of those were from the starting lineup.
Sky Sports News reported that West Ham’s initial £40m offer was not enough to sway the decision-makers at Chelsea, signaling a shift in the club’s stance since January when financial pressures were reportedly greater.
West Ham’s manager, David Moyes, is eager to bolster his midfield options, particularly to replace Declan Rice, who was sold to Arsenal for a hefty £105m sum.
Gallagher has emerged as one of Moyes’s primary targets, but the East London club has been linked with other players as well. Denis Zakaria, Gallagher’s former Chelsea teammate, is also on the Hammers’ radar, making the deliberation over an improved proposal all the more important.
The £40m offer is said to be a tempting prospect for Chelsea given the circumstances, but their firm stance suggests they value Gallagher’s potential contributions to the squad beyond the financial gains.
Meanwhile, West Ham is exploring various alternatives to strengthen their midfield, with players like James Ward-Prowse from Southampton and Edson Alvarez from Ajax also being considered.