Conor Gallagher 'doing more' for Chelsea than 'mistake' signings Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, says ex-Blues defender William Gallas

The English midfielder has been one of the few bright spots for Mauricio Pochettino amid a disappointing and inconsistent campaign. However, it is alleged that Chelsea are considering selling him off in the summer and there has been "no significant progress" over an extension of his contract which is set to expire in 2025. Moreover, with Gallagher being an academy product, Chelsea would see his sale value as complete profit, helping them comply with profit and sustainability guidelines set by the Premier League.

Meanwhile, there is little doubt that after spending astronomical amounts to sign Caicedo and Fernandez, the Chelsea board want the duo to be the engines in midfield and regard them as future stars. However, both players have not been able to fulfill expectations with several lacklustre performances at the centre of the park.

Gallas believes that Chelsea should back Gallagher and reward him for his contributions with a new contract.

Speaking to Lord Ping, Gallas said: "Should Chelsea sell Conor Gallagher? When you spend £100m plus on players like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, they will have big expectations and you expect them to lead on the field. It hasn't happened, they're still young. Conor Gallagher is a Chelsea boy, he did not cost the club any money and the fans love him because of his commitment on the pitch.

"Gallagher runs a lot, you need players like him, if you compare him to Enzo and Caicedo, he is completely different. Gallagher is doing more for Chelsea than the other two, if he has to leave the club, the fans will be upset but they will understand why he has to leave, because of Financial Fair Play. It's hard to understand how Chelsea have put themselves in that position, the board has made a mistake in spending so much money that they now need to rely on selling homegrown players."

Gallas wants Gallagher to fight for his place at Chelsea while urging the club to find alternative financial solutions to keep him.

"If I was Conor Gallagher, I would try to stay with Chelsea. In the end, it's the decision of the player," he added. "The club can't force him to leave if he doesn't want to. Chelsea will have to find another solution to solve the financial situation. If Gallagher wants to stay at Chelsea, he should not let himself leave."

Gallagher saved Chelsea's blushes with a 90th-minute winner against Leeds United in the fifth round of the FA Cup and was also crucial in the 2-2 draw against Brentford last weekend. He will be back in action against Newcastle United on Monday night in the Premier League.