Chelsea ‘offer’ England star who ‘won’t play again’ at Euro 2024 in ‘incredible’ swap for Barcelona Star Boy
According to rumors, Chelsea has offered England midfielder Conor Gallagher as a player-plus-cash deal for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo.
The Blues have spent more than £1 billion since a Todd Boehly-led group took control the Stamford Bridge club in May 2022, but Chelsea supporters are yet to see the results on the pitch.
Chelsea have already been active in the transfer market this summer, adding Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, and Tosin Adarabioyo.
But it appears that the Blues, who hired Enzo Maresca as their new manager at the conclusion of the season after Mauricio Pochettino left by mutual agreement, are far from finished in the transfer market.
Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson, Thiago Silva, and Hakim Ziyech have all left Chelsea this summer, and there have been suggestions for some time that Gallagher may be sold to assist the Premier League club fulfill profit and sustainability targets.
According to sources in Spain, Chelsea has ‘increased its offer’ for Barcelona centre-back Araujo in a ‘fantastic’ deal for the Uruguay international.
Chelsea ‘continue to insist on signing’ Araujo, while Barcelona president Laporta and Deco ‘are not at all closed to the possibility of moving’ the defender this summer for the proper price.
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The Catalan giants ‘have warned all his suitors that they will ask for between €90 million and €100 million’ for Araujo, but Boehly ‘hopes to reach an agreement with Barça to significantly reduce this cost, and has had the idea of including in the negotiations a star player who could be interesting for Hans-Dieter Flick, but is dispensable for Maresca.’
After signing Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, Boehly is willing to exchange Gallagher for the England international, who has “run out of room at Chelsea, where he is one of the leaders, and is seeking for a fresh challenge.”
Chelsea’s offer to Barça for Araújo’s departure is €45 million, including Gallagher’s permanent services.
Gallagher came off the bench in England’s first two Euro 2024 group matches against Serbia and Denmark before being named to Gareth Southgate’s starting lineup in the final group encounter against Slovenia.
However, the Chelsea midfielder was substituted at halftime in their 0-0 draw with Slovenia, before returning off the bench in the 106th minute to play the remaining 14 minutes of extra time in England’s thrilling last-16 triumph against Slovakia.
Didi Hamann, a former Germany international, questioned if Gallagher would return to the tournament before the match against Slovakia.
Hamann told RTE that Gallagher isn’t or wasn’t an issue. He is not the problem for the England squad.
“It is probably too late now. Going after the weaker players does not reflect well on the manager, and that is what he has done throughout the tournament.
“He has taken Alexander-Arnold; he is an easy target. Gallagher leaves at halftime. We probably won’t see Gallagher again for the remainder of the tournament.
