WAYNE BRIDGE insists Chelsea would be “crazy” to let boyhood Blue Conor Gallagher leave anytime soon.
Gallagher, 24, is being heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
EPAConor Gallagher has been linked with a move away from Chelsea[/caption]
Gallagher has been with Chelsea since the age of eight and graduated from the club’s academyGetty – Contributor
Aston Villa have allegedly held talks with both Chelsea and the midfielder’s representatives regarding a potential transfer, with Tottenham also interested.
Gallagher, who has been valued at around £50million, was one of Chelsea‘s most influential players this season.
He captained the team on several occasions while Reece James was sidelined with a hamstring injury and made 50 appearances across all competitions.
However, the possibility of club chiefs sacrificing him in order to remain in line with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules is very high.
Bridge, who made 142 appearances for Chelsea after joining in 2003, claims Gallagher is a key figure at Stamford Bridge and admits it is “mind-blowing” that he could be put up for sale.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport, the former left-back said: “The talk about selling Gallagher, who is probably one of Chelsea’s best players behind Cole Palmer, it’s just crazy.
“So the fact that might have to happen just blows my mind. It’s just crazy.
“They have to keep people like that. It blows my mind that they’ve actually let it get to that point.”
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PA:Press AssociationFormer Chelsea star Wayne Bridge says the Blues would be ‘crazy’ to let Gallagher go[/caption]
Trevoh Chalobah, another Chelsea academy graduate, is also set to be let go ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Manchester United are said to be interested in signing him for £25m.
Bridge suggests the Blues must be “intelligent” in their approach to the transfer window this summer if they are to compete at the top of the Premier League next season.
He also believes new manager Enzo Maresca needs time to take Chelsea forward.
The ex-England star, who has partnered with Betfred ahead of Euro 2024, continued: “Pep’s assistant isn’t a bad thing to go off because he would’ve learned a lot from him, but you’ve got to have the full backing of everyone at Chelsea.
“There’s got to be some very intelligent recruiting and the players they let go of… Again, he’s going to need time and a lot of support because it isn’t going to happen overnight.
“So I think that’s the most important thing. It’s got to be him and them [the Chelsea board] agreeing on who they bring in rather than someone else buying for him.”
Chelsea are on the verge of completing a free transfer for Tosin Adarabioyo.
The defender will leave Fulham when his contract expires later this month.
He is already booked in for a medical with the Blues.
Gallagher was one of Chelsea’s most important players this season
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