Why Gallagher's Atletico move is yet to go through

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Nizaar Kinsella
  • Role, 大象传媒 Sport football news reporter

Chelsea plan to recall midfielder Conor Gallagher to London later on Tuesday as a deal is worked out with Atletico Madrid.

The La Liga club need to raise funds by selling a player before completing the 拢34m move for the 24-year-old, who has spent much of the past week living in a hotel in Madrid.

The limits of the Spanish club's spending power are partly down to the 拢81.5m outlay to sign Julian Alvarez from Manchester City, which was completed on Monday.

Gallagher is believed to want the move to Atletico and has both completed a medical and signed the paperwork on a new contract.

But after striker Samu Omorodion's move going the other way collapsed, it has left Gallagher in limbo.

There are new talks for Chelsea to re-sign forward Joao Felix instead, but negotiations could take time and are fraught with uncertainty as both clubs push for a favourable price.

Felix spent six months on loan at Chelsea in 2023 and scored four goals in 20 matches during his brief spell in England.

There is also a small chance that Chelsea's talks to sign Omorodion could be revived or a major player sale to another club could help Gallagher's move to go through.