Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund are reportedly keeping tabs on Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
The England international, 23, is a popular option for numerous Premier League clubs looking to improve their midfield. Now, Conor Gallagher also has interest from Germany in the form of Dortmund.
According to Sky Germany, BVB have identified Gallagher as a potential Jude Bellingham replacement, should his compatriot leave.
A further boost to Dortmund’s plans is that Chelsea are looking to reduce the large number of players in their squad. Gallagher is likely one of the stars who will be part of this cull, despite having two years left on his contract.
The Blues midfielder may command a fee in the €40-50 million range this summer. However, Dortmund will not have a straightforward run to sign their rumoured target.
Who will compete with Dortmund to sign Conor Gallagher?
Multiple sides in England’s topflight have enquired about Gallagher’s availability. Firstly, Liverpool are reportedly keeping the Englishman in mind for their midfield revamp. Per The Independent, he is high on Jurgen Klopp’s list of midfield options for this summer.
The blue side of Liverpool has also attempted to sign Conor Gallagher in the past. During the January transfer window, Everton tried a £45m bid for the 23-year-old. Unfortunately for the Toffees, their attempts were unsuccessful.
Despite this, Everton may want to try and get Gallagher again this summer – provided that they avoid relegation.
Finally, Newcastle United are yet another Premier League rival monitoring Chelsea’s situation. The Magpies have expressed interest in Gallagher previously, as well as in his teammate, Mason Mount.
Whether he chooses to stay in the Premier League or go to Dortmund, increased minutes will likely be the key factor for Conor Gallagher. After all, 2022/23 has not been as joyful as the previous campaign.
Gallagher’s 2022/23 with Chelsea
Gallagher returned to Chelsea from a loan spell with Crystal Palace last season. Whilst at Selhurst Park, he had developed into one of the league’s bright young stars. He got eight goals and three assists from 34 League appearances for Palace, helping them finish twelfth.
Many expected that his strong campaign away from Chelsea would see him become a more regular fixture in the Blues’ team. However, this has not been the case.
Although he has made 28 domestic appearances this season, Gallagher has just 12 starts for Chelsea. This has resulted in just two goals and one assist in 2022/23.
Of course, Chelsea as a whole have been a team that’s out-of-sorts. They do not have a settled formation, or a consistent starting XI.
The Blues have also spent outlandishly, investing hundreds of millions on new players. In Gallagher’s case, the arrival of Enzo Fernandez and others makes finding a spot in the starting XI increasingly difficult.
Chelsea also has a need to keep FFP in check; therefore, the Blues may have to sell the likes of Conor Gallagher during the summer window.
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