Conor Gallagher's move to Atletico Madrid has taken a dramatic turn, with the Chelsea midfielder now set to fly back to London as his transfer deal hangs by a thread.
The £36 million ($46m) move, agreed upon last Thursday, is now in serious doubt due to complications with other transfers involving both clubs.
Gallagher, who passed a medical and even agreed to a five-year contract with Atletico, now finds himself in a precarious position.
The transfer, which seemed almost certain, is now facing significant hurdles, with Atletico’s financial issues playing a big part in the delay.
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Negotiations stalled, Gallagher in limbo
The collapse of Samu Omorodion’s move to Chelsea have been a significant setback. Chelsea had been negotiating for Joao Felix as an alternative, but Atletico’s £50 million ($64m) valuation of Felix is a far cry from the £34.5 million ($44.1m) originally agreed for Omorodion. With no agreement in sight, Gallagher's future remains uncertain.
As the situation drags on, it has been deemed unfair for Gallagher to continue training alone in Madrid, living in a hotel with no clear resolution in sight. Sources suggest that the best course of action is for the 23-year-old to return to Chelsea while negotiations continue.
Unless there is a sudden breakthrough, Gallagher is expected to fly back to London on Tuesday and will be given some time off before rejoining training. However, he might not train with the first team; instead, he will be grouped with players like Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah.
Atletico, bound by La Liga's strict financial regulations, still need to raise more funds to finalize Gallagher's signing. The Spanish club’s financial constraints, coupled with UEFA regulations, are creating ongoing challenges in completing the deal.
Despite the uncertainty, a resolution to Gallagher’s future is expected before the transfer window closes on August 30. While a move to Atletico remains possible, the situation is far from resolved.
