Club launch ‘informal offer’ for Chelsea man – Blues reject it but Pochettino departure opens door

Atletico Madrid have seen an informal offer for Conor Gallagher rejected by Chelsea, who want more than is currently being considered.

That’s according to AS, who say the Spanish side are probing a potential effort to get the midfielder and that saw them launch a ‘first informal offer’.

The newspaper explains that Diego Simeone’s side contacted Chelsea to find out about Gallagher’s situation, with a first informal approach worth around €20m put on the table.

That was immediately rejected by Chelsea, who made it clear that while Gallagher may be for sale, he will only depart for a price they feel is acceptable. Their current asking price is €50m.

That price would prove to be too high for the Colchoneros, but talks will be resumed in the near future on the potential deal.

It has been made clear that the door is open for the midfielder to depart this summer, though. He had been a key player for Mauricio Pochettino, but the Argentine has now gone and so a transfer may be on the cards.

Atleti and particularly Simeone like the player and see him as a midfielder who could be a key player for the next decade.

Thus, they will continue to push and potentially reach a deal with Chelsea, although for the time being the two sides are far apart in their valuations of Gallagher.