Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed Conor Gallagher has been offered a new contract to remain at Stamford Bridge and urged those involved to find a “solution” which benefits everyone.
With Gallagher now in the final 12 months of his contract, Chelsea are prepared to sell and have agreed a €40m (£34.1m) fee with Atletico Madrid, although the midfielder has not yet given his approval to such a move.
Meanwhile, Gallagher has rejected two offers of a new contract and it was reported on Friday that Chelsea have warned the academy graduate that he will be banned from training with the senior squad if he does not either accept a departure or sign the new deal offered to him.
Gallagher’s future at Chelsea was a primary focus on Maresca’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Manchester City, and the boss called for patience while things are addressed privately.
“The only thing I can say is I know he is in contact with the club to find a solution,” Maresca began. “The club offered him a new contract. But this is, at the moment, the only news I received.
“Also because they know that when we are in competition or working, I like to be focused on what we have here. That is, in this moment, this game and then the Real Madrid game. For me as a manager, it is the most important thing. Just to focus on the most important thing that is the pitch.”
Asked specifically about the idea of banishing Gallagher from training, Maresca explained: “At the moment, there is not any update on that.
“The only thing I can say is that he was in contact with the club to find a solution. I don’t think it’s something new. In football, every summer, different clubs have some problems with some players and then at the end, they find a solution and everyone is happy. Hopefully the same can happen in this situation.”
Further reports have claimed Chelsea do not believe Gallagher is a good fit for Maresca’s tactics, with Blues officials warning the midfielder that he faces a backup role and a battle to hold on to his spot in the England squad if he stays.
Maresca stressed that he would be happy to work with Gallagher or any other player, leaving the door open to a potential return.
“The squad we have, they are all players that if they are in the squad, I will do my best to try to use them and help them to understand the way we want to play,” he said. “So at the moment, until the player is in the squad, I don’t have any problem.
“I would like to have all of them. If you ask the same question to the other manager, they will answer the same. It is the same problem as always. Until the transfer window isn’t open, anything can happen, to bring players or sell players. Unfortunately, until the last day, something can happen.
“The main focus in this moment for the club, for Conor and for me is they are going to find a solution. This is the main target. Then in the moment they find a solution, I think everybody is happy. But until the solution is not there, it’s difficult to say the best solution. My focus is on today’s session, tomorrow’s game and this is for me the most important thing.”
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