Enzo Maresca admits Conor Gallagher is ‘trying to find a solution with the club’ after his £34m move to Atletico Madrid fell through… as the Chelsea boss reveals the midfielder is training alone
- Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, 24, appeared set to sign for Atletico Madrid
- Gallagher trains independently after move to Madrid failed
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Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Conor Gallagher has returned to Chelsea, but the midfielder is currently training alone and will not be part of Sunday’s squad after his move to Atletico Madrid fell through.
Gallagher was on the verge of joining the Spanish club this summer and was even set to travel to Madrid, but complications surrounding Samu Omorodion’s proposed transfer to Chelsea saw the deal called off at the last minute.
As a result, the midfielder was on a flight back to England with his future unclear, but Gallagher is said to be ‘trying to find a solution’ with the Premier League giants.
Maresca confirmed that while the 24-year-old remains fit, he will not be in the squad for Chelsea’s season opener against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Maresca said: ‘Conor is back. He is training separately. He is doing some medical tests and some training. He will not be involved in the match. At the moment he is trying to find a solution with the club.’
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Conor Gallagher has returned to Chelsea, but the midfielder is currently training alone and will not be part of the squad for Sunday’s match.
Gallagher comes from Chelsea’s esteemed youth academy and made an early impression with strong performances for the club’s U18 and U23 teams.
Despite his undeniable talent, first-team opportunities at Chelsea were scarce in the early stages of his career due to fierce competition from the club for a place at the club.
This saw him loaned out to a number of places, which would ultimately shape him into the dynamic midfielder he is today.
Gallagher first came to prominence during his loan spell at Charlton Athletic in the 2019-20 season, where he quickly developed into one of the Championship’s most promising young talents.
A mid-season move to Swansea City further enhanced his reputation and by the time he joined West Bromwich Albion for the 2020-21 Premier League season, Gallagher had developed into a versatile midfielder with a tireless work ethic and a knack for disrupting the game.
His performances for West Brom, despite the club’s relegation, earned him much praise, but his big breakthrough came during the 2021-22 season when he joined Crystal Palace on loan.
Gallagher flourished under Patrick Vieira and became a key figure for the Eagles with his energetic performances, box-to-box runs and contributions in front of goal.
His performances saw him finish the season with eight goals and four assists in the Premier League, earning him a call-up to England and putting him on Chelsea’s radar for a first-team role.
Returning to Stamford Bridge for the 2022-23 season, Gallagher was finally given the chance to play regularly for Chelsea. Despite facing stiff competition in midfield, he made a number of appearances throughout the season.
Despite his ups and downs, Gallagher’s dedication made him popular with Chelsea fans and he became a regular in the first team, often playing in a variety of midfield positions.
More to come…