Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are negotiating a deal for the transfer of midfielder Conor Gallagher, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Gallagher has entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and has been heavily touted to leave his boyhood club this summer, despite his wish to stay and fight for his place in west London.
In recent months, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have been mentioned as a potential destination for the England international, and they have now acted upon their interest.
Romano claims the Spanish side have now entered direct negotiations with the Blues over the 24-year-old, who is at the top of their midfielder shortlist this summer. The Pensioners are said to be demanding a packager worth around an initial fee of €35 million to €40 million ($38m to $44m) plus more in add-ons, with the deal said to be inching closer by every hour.
The aforementioned fee is significantly below the £50 million ($64m) price-tag slapped by Chelsea earlier in the summer amidst interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham. Any money received from the potential Gallagher sale would be recorded as pure profit since the midfielder is an academy graduate.
Spurs continue to hold a long-term interest in Conor Gallagher, even though they have already secured a new midfielder this summer by signing Archie Gray from Leeds United for £40 million ($51m). Aston Villa, meanwhile, were also linked to Gallagher, but have since gone and shelled £50 million ($64m) to sign Amadou Onana from Everton.
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