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Chelsea Midfielder Conor Gallagher Agrees Move To Atletico Madrid
Conor Gallagher has given his agreement to join Atletico Madrid and is scheduled to travel to Spain on Monday to finalize his departure from Chelsea, according to reports.
Having seen Gallagher enter the final 12 months of his contract, Chelsea accepted a bid worth €40m (£34.2m) from Atletico but there was serious uncertainty over whether the midfielder would accept the terms on offer.
Atletico Madrid set a deadline of Sunday evening for Gallagher to make a decision, and as initially reported by Fabrizio Romano, the 24-year-old has now confirmed his readiness to proceed with the transfer.
Further reports state Gallagher will fly to Spain on Monday to undergo a medical and finalize personal terms with Diego Simeone’s side.
Celtic midfielder, Matt O’Riley, has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Gallagher at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea extended an offer for Gallagher to sign a contract extension; however, the academy graduate was not satisfied with the two-year proposal, which included the option for 12 months.
After Gallagher turned down the opportunity to join Aston, who had offered a higher fee than Atletico Madrid, Chelsea cautioned him that he would be reduced to a squad player this season if he decided to remain at the club.
Some reports even suggested that Gallagher could be barred from the first-team facilities.
Gallagher has now finally opted to head to Atletico, where his all-action, press-heavy style of play could fit in seamlessly under Simeone.
Should Gallagher’s proposed move go through as expected, Chelsea would break the £100m mark for player sales this summer.
Fellow academy graduates Ian Maatsen and Lewis Hall was sold for a combined £65.5 million, while winger, Omari Hutchinson was transferred to Ipswich Town for £20 million, just two years after Chelsea had brought him in on a free transfer from Arsenal.
