Chelsea strike £35m deal for Atletico Madrid's Samu Omorodion with Conor Gallagher heading in opposite direction

It was reported earlier this week that the Blues had reignited their interest in 20-year-old Omorodion and they have now found an agreement with Atletico, with midfielder Gallagher moving in the opposite direction in a separate deal. According to multiple reports, Chelsea will pay £35m plus add-ons to sign the Spain Under-21 international, who will sign a seven-year contract after impressing on loan at Alaves last season.

Gallagher is set to travel to Madrid to complete his £34m ($43.4m) switch to Atletico, while he is likely to be followed to the Wanda Metropolitano by Manchester City's Julian Alvarez in a deal worth up to £82m ($104m) - a club-record sale for the Premier League champions. It had been reported that Atleti would not sanction Omorodion's sale before signing a replacement, but after a brief hold-up the move for Alvarez is expected to go through.

Omorodion, whose contract at Atletico runs until 2028, joined the Spanish team from Granada in 2023 but spent last season on loan at Alaves. He scored eight goals in 35 matches for the fellow La Liga team but is yet to play for Diego Simeone's side.

It remains to be seen when Omorodion would join up with his new team-mates as he is currently away at the Paris Olympics with Spain. Chelsea have returned to the UK atfer an unsuccessful pre-season tour in the United States. They face Inter in their final friendly on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.