Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly disagree over Chelsea star’s future as January price tag revealed

Chelsea transfer news means that the Blues manager may need to prepare for life without one of his key players.

Mauricio Pochettino could be forced to sell midfielder and acting captain Conor Gallagher in a disagreement with the Chelsea higher-ups. (Image: Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

There aren’t many players who have been as involved in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans since his summer arrival at Chelsea as midfielder Conor Gallagher.

The 24-year-old, who has frequently been the unsung hero of the previous few seasons at Stamford Bridge, has been given the captain’s armband over more seasoned players like Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling while club captain Reece James and vice captain Ben Chilwell both recover from injuries.

Gallagher has remained with the club through its lowest points over the previous 25 years, while other academy graduates have left for better salaries. He chose to stay with Chelsea in a move that may now define his career, as he was heavily linked to leaving the team during the summer transfer window. Now that those links are resurfacing ahead of the January transfer window, it’s clear he wants to prove himself to those above Pochettino.

“Captaining the team tonight was a great moment and hopefully many more,” he said following the team’s Carabao Cup victory over AFC Wimbledon back in August. “Everyone’s playing well, and it’s clear that many elite midfielders have joined the team, but right now I’m just playing with a lot of confidence because I feel strong and fit.

“Having a strong team this season is fantastic, and it will be crucial to our ability to win games. I’m pleased with how things are going for me personally and want to keep getting better and assisting the team in winning more games.

Following that, the player made his request to remain at the club clear to the owners by declaring that Chelsea was “his club” in an effort to win a new contract, as his current one expires in 2025. “Playing and training with midfielders worth over a hundred million pounds is good and it shows where I’m at,” he stated. So maybe I can keep playing as many games as I can and keep performing well.

“I’m confident that his contract will be resolved; after all, Chelsea is my team, and I enjoy playing for them. I’m in love right now, and the fans are amazing. I have no doubt that things will work themselves out.

“It was a crazy period in terms of ins and outs at Chelsea in the summer and I had conversations with the manager and he expressed that he liked me as a player and I was in his plans and I was really happy with that.”

It’s believed that Pochettino is fighting the higher-ups over the sale of Gallagher, but that it could be taken out of his hands if a good enough offer comes through from an interested party. Tottenham, West Ham, and Manchester United are all reportedly vying for the star’s signature over the winter.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that the asking price for that “good enough” offer is also not particularly high. He wrote the following for CaughtOffside: “Mauricio Pochettino has discussed Conor Gallagher’s future, and things are pretty much the same as they were last summer. In the summer, he was available, but only for a significant offer.

Chelsea wants to speak with the player and his representatives because, in all honesty, he has always been available and his contract is about to expire in 2025. I believe a substantial offer would be necessary for January, but Chelsea might be willing to talk if the offer exceeded £35 million.

However, they are not yet at the point where they have made the decision to sell Gallagher, so they do not fully approve of it. From what I’ve heard, a decision regarding Gallagher is still pending. Chelsea is still debating his new contract situation, but they can’t completely rule out his departure in the event that they receive a significant offer. Tottenham expressed interest in him in the summer, but nothing more has happened since.