Aston Villa have initiated preliminary discussions with Chelsea over a potential move for midfielder Conor Gallagher, according to The Athletic.
The 24-year-old played a crucial role for Chelsea during the 2023/24 season, often captaining the team in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell due to injuries.
Conor Gallagher’s impressive performances, which included seven goals and nine assists, earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-player squad for Euro 2024. Despite his strong season, Chelsea must sell players to meet Profit and Sustainability rules, prompting talks of Gallagher’s exit.
Aston Villa, now a Champions League side, sees Gallagher as a top target to bolster their midfield. With his contract entering its final 12 months, Villa has contacted both Chelsea and Gallagher’s representatives. Chelsea has set a price tag of around £50 million for the midfielder.
The negotiations could be facilitated by the good relationship between the clubs, following the transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka to Chelsea from Villa Park.
A potential swap deal involving 20-year-old forward Jhon Duran, who has also attracted interest from Italy, Spain, and Saudi Arabia, might be explored as talks progress.
