Chelsea complete scandalous transfer as Conor Gallagher reality finally clear

Chelsea remain at the front and centre of transfer activity this summer. The Blues have now completed 11 deals both in and out of Stamford Bridge and pre-season is yet to even start.

We are now into the last week of Euro 2024, and the end of that will bring fresh opportunities for player movement. For now, there is still plenty for Chelsea to be getting on with under Enzo Maresca.

The boss has officially started his role as head coach and players are filtering back into the club ahead of preparatory work before the tour of America last this month. Meanwhile, decision-makers are starting to eye up targets of increasing variety, with Aaron Anselmino and Renato Veiga just the latest to have their arrival all but confirmed.

Here, football.london takes a look at the latest Blues news from the summer market.

Golding completes exit

Leicester have confirmed the signing of Chelsea academy ace Michael Golding. The teenager moves to the King Power Stadium in a separate deal to the one that saw Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall arrive at Stamford Bridge last week.

Golding, who made his full debut for the club last season under Mauricio Pochettino in a brief cameo that almost saw him score, will bank Chelsea £5million for the sale, and there is no buyback clause inserted into his contract. He also becomes the sixth player to leave the club after Omari Hutchinson, Ian Maatsen, and Lewis Hall had their exits confirmed. Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva both departed for free.

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football.london says: Hello PSR my old friend. It doesn’t matter much how much clubs suggest that these transfers are being conducted apart, but with the effective Aston Villa-Chelsea, Everton-Aston Villa, and Chelsea-Leicester ‘swaps’ being completed, this is a dreadful period for English football.

The deals may well be completely legal – although questions will be raised of the valuation being attached to each player the longer they go on (sorry Omari Kellyman, but we are looking at you, and you, Elliot Anderson) – but this is a scandalous state of affairs to be in. Football needs to do better.

This is not to say that Golding to Leicester, or indeed Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea, is bad, but it’s the environment in which they are being carried out that really grates. Chelsea have sold a promising academy graduate who plays in midfield and signed one from the Foxes, albeit one who is older, more established, and more proven.

It’s not a great world to be in. Is this really how we want to go on?

Gallagher movement

Conor Gallagher is unlikely to complete a move across London to Tottenham this summer, reports suggest. The 24-year-old has been a long-term target for Ange Postecoglou’s side are one of the known interested clubs.

Spurs have not only already signed Archie Gray from Leeds for £25million (plus Joe Rodon going the other way) but they are also looking at Jacob Ramsey, it has been said, and the Villa man is seen as a possible alternative for Gallagher. Chelsea’s stand-in captain for much of last season is not thought to be keen on leaving London though, and his preference has always been to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have raised their price for Gallagher from the £35million they wanted last summer, even with his contract entering the last 12 months. He is likely to cost closer to £50million now.

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football.london says: Chelsea are stumbling towards the right outcome here. Gallagher staying is the best piece of business that can be completed in the coming months, and despite being open to selling him for the past two years, they are starting to value him like a player of his calibre deserves.

The reality of the situation is that Gallagher is a midfielder worth at least £50million regardless of his contract. It is never easy to get rid of people who truly want to succeed at the club either. Just ask Trevoh Chalobah, who the club are equally open to to letting go. Ian Maatsen didn’t accept a transfer away just because an offer had been accepted. The power still rests with players in these circumstances.

The next step is to reward Gallagher for his form and not to let up. It was clear along time ago that selling Gallagher was crazy, Chelsea finally look like they’re starting to see the light.