Chris Sutton is flabbergasted that Chelsea are willing to part ways with Tottenham target Conor Gallagher
English midfielder Conor Gallagher has been one of the success stories at Chelsea this season and it comes as no surprise that Tottenham Hotspur are as interested as ever to secure his signature.
The 23-year-old was heavily linked with a summer exit in 2023 but in the end stayed put at Stamford Bridge. Gallagher has since gone from strength to strength and even captained the Blues on numerous occasions under Mauricio Pochettino.
A dynamic and energetic presence in the middle of the park, Gallagher is a difficult player to keep quiet. Not only is he proficient on the ball but is also someone who gets the best out of those around them. The willingness to leave it all on the pitch makes him a manager’s dream.
Now that the 2024 January transfer window is here, Tottenham’s interest has once again resurfaced. Ange Postecoglou has turned Tottenham into challengers but could do with cover in midfield ahead of a decisive second half of the 2023/24 campaign. With Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg expected to leave, there should be a void in the Spurs midfield roster that needs addressing.
Gallagher certainly suits Postecoglou’s side and could make Tottenham a far harder opposition to handle. The fact that Chelsea are considering the sale of a player such as Gallagher, that too to a direct rival appears surprising. It is a line of thought shared by pundit Chris Sutton, who made his feelings clear on The Daily Mail’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast.
“That is remarkable that we are talking about one of Chelsea’s best players moving to Tottenham in January.”
The power balance this century has seen Chelsea outdo Tottenham in terms of success. While one can understand the Spurs star wanting to move to Chelsea, the opposite rarely happens, especially if a player is yet to hit his prime. Sutton admits to being particularly stunned that Chelsea would consider selling their skipper to such an arch-rival.
“When you think of the last 20 years, it shouldn’t work that way round. Spurs could sell their best player to Chelsea, but when was the last time something like this happened? It’s quite staggering – the Chelsea captain moving to Tottenham.”
Given our rebuild, it makes little sense to sell a player such as Gallagher. Sutton is right to question the club’s ambition should a deal materialise. After all, the 23-year-old isn’t just a reliable footballer but is also someone who gets the club having come through the system at Cobham.
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One can understand Chelsea’s predicament given the reason to sell before buying. Should big money be brought in, it can be used to reinforce the squad in other areas. However, on the field, it could prove to be a decision that comes back to haunt us.
