Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has warned Stamford Bridge chairman Todd Boehly that Blues fans will ‘revolt’ if the club sells Conor Gallagher this summer.
The England midfielder has been the subject of intense transfer speculation for several months with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid linked with the 24-year-old.
Given Gallagher’s status as a homegrown player, any transfer fee received would go down as pure profit from a profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) point of view, which would significantly improve the club’s precarious PSR standing amid another summer of heavy investment in west London.
But Gallas says a fan backlash should make Boehly re-think this strategy.
“One thing that you can say about Gallagher is that the fans adore him,” the Frenchman told Gambling Zone. “He has the fans behind him, so I’m telling you, if the ownership try and sell him, they will be in a lot of trouble with the fans at the club. Todd Boehly has got enough problems running the club (laughs). He doesn’t need the fans getting even more angry with him for selling a homegrown player, trust me.”
Gallas also believes that Gallagher himself would not want to leave the club.
“I completely understand why Conor Gallagher doesn’t want to leave Chelsea,” he added. “That’s the club he grew up in – he’s a London boy, he’s a Chelsea boy – why would he want to leave? You have to think as well, because of his relationship with the fans, there aren’t any other top London clubs he probably feels like he can join.
“The Chelsea fans would not be able to forgive one of their own going to play for Arsenal or going to play for Tottenham. Conor Gallagher has to stay at Chelsea this season. The problem is he has only got one more year left on his contract.”
The contract situation is another factor in Gallagher’s uncertain future, with Gallas believing that the midfielder could end up earning a new deal.
“How can he get a new contract? He has to score goals. Simple! Score eight, nine goals this season and I’m sure Chelsea will extend his contract. When you want to play with a high press, you need a player like him. Listen, if he scores eight or nine goals, I think Chelsea will extend his contract.”
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