MAURICIO POCHETTINO confirmed Conor Gallagher was one of many Chelsea players he held transfer talks with.
Gallagher has 18 months left on his deal and has become a regular under Pochettino with 24 appearances this season.
APConor Gallagher has held transfer talks with Mauricio Pochettino[/caption]
And in the absence of injured full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell, the midfielder has often captained the Blues this season.
But it has not stopped speculation linking him with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer, with Tottenham interested.
Gallagher does not want to leave his boyhood club but his future has been discussed by ex-Spurs manager Pochettino.
He admitted: “We talked about many, many subjects because it’s normal.
“But it’s a very natural situation that, of course, we talk in a very natural way.
“If you want to ask me if I was talking with Conor about this situation, yes.
“Like all the players when some rumour happens, always it’s good to have a good conversation with the player, like Ian Maatsen, or different players like this, Andrey Santos.
“I think always it’s important for us, the coaches, to have very clear and very direct, honest conversations with the players.
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“It’s healthy to have these type of relationships. I think he’s doing a fantastic job, he’s working well, he’s helping the club and us and team-mates a lot.
“We are happy with his performances. He has an advantage because he knows the club, he knows the demands of the Premier League. We are so happy with him.”
Maatsen, 21, is in advanced talks to join Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund with the Germans giants negotiating two loan deals.
Meanwhile, Santos has returned to Chelsea after his loan to Nottingham Forest was cut short amid a lack of game time.
The 19-year-old Brazilian – who played just twice for Forest – could be sent back out on loan this month.
GettyAndrey Santos has returned to Chelsea from Nottingham Forest[/caption]