Atletico Madrid in talks to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea as Blues name asking price for homegrown midfielder

Gallagher appears to be moving closer to a move to Atletico Madrid as Diego Simeone's side are now in "direct talks" with Chelsea over a transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Blues are willing to offload the England international for €35-40m (£29m-33m) and negotiations are underway between the two clubs.

Gallagher is into the final year of his contract at Chelsea and the Blues are believed to be willing to cash in on the academy graduate in a bid to try and help balance the books at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham and Aston Villa have also been linked with moves for Gallagher, but Atletico have made the midfielder a top priority and appear to be the leading the race.

Gallagher joined Chelsea at the age of eight and has been with the club ever since. It's not known yet if he is willing to leave his boyhood club and move to Spain to join Atletico this summer. However, Chelsea will be acutely aware that if he does not depart, it increases the possibility of him moving on a free transfer next summer.

Chelsea have given Gallagher an extended break after Euro 2024, meaning he won't take part in their pre-season tour of the United States and will instead return to training at Cobham at the start of August. The club's first game of the 2024-25 Premier League season in on August 18 against Manchester City, but it remains to be seen if Gallagher will still be a Chelsea player by the time the fixture rolls around.