TOTTENHAM hope to tie up a quick deal for Conor Gallagher this summer – and Chelsea’s financial pressures could make it happen.
England midfielder Gallagher, 24, has been a long-term target for Spurs.
RexConor Gallagher is on Spurs’ radar this summer[/caption]
Ange Postecoglou wants to strengthen his squad – which he hopes will be playing in the Champions League next term – as early as possible for pre-season and sees Gallagher as a great fit for his style.
The former Crystal Palace loanee will only have a year left on his Blues deal in June and while there remains a chance he signs a new one at his boyhood club, the likelihood is he will be sold.
Chelsea need to flog players to raise funds before July 1 to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules after overspending during the Todd Boehly era.
That boosts the chances of a Gallagher sale – which would be deemed as pure profit for the Blues given he is a homegrown player – early in the close season.
Postecoglou rapidly got his business underway last summer by bringing in Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli and James Maddison from Leicester in June.
While Timo Werner – who hopes to have his loan made permanent in the summer for £15million after impressing – and Radu Dragusin were signed early in January.
Chelsea would be looking for at least £40m for Gallagher.
That is considering they sold Mason Mount for £55m to Manchester United with a year left on his deal last summer, and Maddison, who also had 12 months remaining on his Foxes deal, went for £40m.
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But the West Londoners’ PSR requirements may mean they have to accept less – unless they can get a bidding war going amongst interested parties.
Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino has reiterated his desire to keep Gallagher, who has 12 caps for his country and hopes to go to the Euros.
When asked about whether he hoped to have his future sorted before this summer’s tournament, Gallagher said last month: “When it comes to it, I’ll be focusing on England and the task in hand.”
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