Conor Gallagher’s Atletico Madrid move could be OFF as Spanish journalist drops Chelsea transfer bombshell

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid is currently in serious doubt amid fresh drama at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

The Blues have reached an agreement with Atletico to sell Gallagher for a fee of £33 million.

Atletico are also trying to sign Julian Alvarez from Manchester City for £72 million, while forward Samu Omorodion was set to leave the Wanda Metropolitano to sign for Chelsea.

But it was reported by El Chiringuito’s Marcus Benito that the latter deal has collapsed due to a contractual issue.

As per Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are now targeting the return of forward Joao Felix from Atletico, while Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is another option.

But Benito has now claimed that, as things stand, Gallagher to Atletico is off unless a breakthrough can be found.

The reason why the deal appears to be relying on Omorodion or Felix’s move to Chelsea would appear likely related to finances, given the fact that moves for Omorodion and Gallagher would be for similar fees.

Any sale for Gallagher would represent the latest sale of a Chelsea academy product to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules, in a strategy that is increasingly infuriating sections of the club’s support.

Manager Enzo Maresca took aim at the rules – which allow the sales of academy players to appear as a one-time sum of pure profit on three-year balance sheets – and told reporters: “This is not a Chelsea problem. This is the rules problem.

“The clubs are compelled to sell players because of the rules. It’s not a Chelsea problem, it is a Premier League problem.

“The intention from Chelsea is not to sell – but the rules in the end make us. I love that Totti was at Roma for 20 years and a one-club man – I love that, we all love that.

“It’s the rules. My personal opinion is it’s a shame because we all like to see a one-club man.”