Why Chelsea won’t commit to the player everyone loves… Conor Gallagher has won the hearts of fans and Mauricio Pochettino, but Todd Boehly needs convincing to give him bumper deal

Conor Gallagher wants to stay at Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino wants Gallagher to stay. The solution therefore seems quite simple.

The truth is much more complicated.

Gallagher’s match-winning display at Crystal Palace on Monday evening has intensified the focus on the England international’s future.

Re-signing the 24-year-old seems like a no-brainer. The fans love him. His teammates love him. Even more relevant is that his manager loves him.

Privately, Pochettino has strongly put forward the merits of agreeing a new contract for Gallagher with his superiors.

That won’t be a surprise. A rare bright spark in a mediocre campaign.

Gallagher regularly captained the team in the absence of injured duo Reece James and Ben Chilwell.

He made the most Premier League starts of any Chelsea player. He was the standard bearer at the club’s training ground in Cobham for a period that insiders say fell well short of expectations. Pochettino’s dependence on Gallagher is clear.

What is not so definitive is how Chelsea’s hierarchy sees Gallagher’s future.

Pochettino has done what he can, but the club’s inability to put together a contractual package that would satisfy a player of Gallagher’s stature has created uncertainty.

Pochettino recognizes the benefits: the infectious work rate and tenacity. He also sees the intangibles: the exemplary attitude, his respectful and courteous nature.

When Gallagher arrived in the Midlands on loan to West Brom in September 2000, he immediately made the decision to move from London.

It was an assertive decision that impressed then manager Slaven Bilic. Loan moves often leave footballers in limbo when it comes to their living arrangements, but Gallagher’s decision to uproot has left an indelible mark on that of the Hawthorns.

It was that dedication that endeared him to Crystal Palace players during his impressive loan spell there during the 2021/2022 season.

“No problems at all,” said a leading football figure who has worked closely with Gallagher.

What’s the problem? Doubts remain on the field. Facing a Chelsea team in its current state of flux, would he find himself regularly playing in a Blues team more in line with where they hope their future will take them?

“His work rate is unquestionable, his ability to put opponents under pressure and win the ball back is perhaps his most valuable asset,” said a well-placed source.

‘But there has always been doubt about the technical side of his game.’

When considering whether to hand Gallagher his first England call-up ahead of Qatar 2022, Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland cited his best attribute: coming off the bench to win the ball higher up the pitch than his ability in possession.

With that in mind, it is perhaps understandable that Chelsea are reluctant to go above their unofficial wage cap of around £150,000 per week.

In today’s market it’s fair to say that Gallagher is worth more than that wage, especially when you consider that academy graduate Reece James, who signed his last deal under the Todd Boehly/Clearlake regime, is on £250,000 per week deserves.

Chelsea, like James, could make an exception if they really wanted to. The fact that they haven’t done so yet speaks volumes.

Those close to Gallagher will tell you that his next contract will be driven by the need to feel wanted, not money.

But those advising Gallagher, who currently earns around £60,000 a week, would be foolish to underrate a midfielder who has an excellent chance of going to the 2024 Euros this summer.

Gallagher is entering the final 12 months of his current contract and Chelsea privately acknowledge that his value will drop dramatically between now and the summer.

Chelsea are said to have received offers of between £50 and £60 million in January. But by the time the summer window opens, its value could be halved.

There is also the matter of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to consider. Well-placed sources have indicated that Chelsea are flying uncomfortably close to the wind when it comes to regulatory compliance.

With Gallagher – and striker Armando Broja currently on loan at Fulham – they have assets that will count as 100 percent profit on the PSR balance sheet.

Chelsea have already shown that they are willing to sell their own club to ensure their financial stability, such as when Mason Mount left for Manchester United last summer.

Tottenham have a solid interest in Gallagher and are open to negotiations this summer – although Gallagher comes from a Chelsea-mad family and a move to north London may not suit them. But Mail Sport understands he would prioritize staying down south if he does leave, leaving the door open for Spurs.