Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has sent a warning to Chelsea ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Chelsea find themselves in a position where they may have to sell players at the end of the season because of profit and sustainability rules.
In terms of potential departures, then, the likes of Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher have both been linked with exits.
The former is reportedly attracting interest from MLS, while it has been claimed that the latter was recently scouted by Newcastle United.
Sterling and Gallagher have both been key players for Mauricio Pochettino this season, making 40 and 44 appearances respectively.
Paul Merson warns Chelsea they will not sign a better player than £50m star
Despite being such important members of Pochettino’s squad, it does look like Sterling and Gallagher could depart Stamford Bridge in the summer.
With his contract expiring in 2025, Gallagher’s position at the club definitely does not look safe.
However, Merson is certain that if Chelsea do go on to sell the midfielder, they will not be able to find a better player in the market.
In his column for Sky Sports, the former Arsenal forward said: “They’ll probably be able to sell Gallagher for £40-50m and then because of the silly rules they’ll be able to buy someone from abroad for £100m.
“The player they are going to buy isn’t going to be better than what he is. That would just sum Chelsea up. It’s a bad cycle they have put themselves in. I don’t know what they were doing.”
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Gallagher is currently valued at around £50m by Chelsea.
Conor Gallagher has taken responsibility this season
Gallagher is still quite a young player. He started this campaign as a 23-year-old, but that never stopped him from taking the armband.
The Englishman has captained Chelsea on multiple occasions this season, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell unable to stay fit.
It was also Gallagher who came out and apologised to Chelsea supporters following the team’s 5-0 loss against Arsenal on Tuesday night.
You need players like the England international in the dressing room. Chelsea should not be in a hurry to get rid of him.