Aston Villa and Chelsea talks reach ‘dead end’ as Tottenham problem arises
Aston Villa and Chelsea’s negotiations over a £50m transfer have broken down, dealing a blow to Tottenham Hotspur in the process.
As has become rather public knowledge over recent weeks, Unai Emery is very keen on bringing Chelsea star Conor Gallagher to Villa Park - but talks have reached a bit of a dead end.
There’s been fairly constant communication between the two clubs over a host of deals - including Ian Maatsen to Villa and Jhon Duran to Chelsea - but the Gallagher talks are at a stalemate. Emery is desperate to add the England international to his midfield ranks but patience will be required if any deal is to come to fruition.
Fabrizio Romano reports Gallagher is fully focused on the UEFA European Championships and won’t entertain any negotiations at this time. Chelsea’s £50 million asking price is also a stumbling block as Villa believe it’s a steep fee for a player with just 12 months left on his contract.
The good news for Villa, at least, is this breakdown in talks won’t have any impact on the Maatsen transfer. The Netherlands international is far more willing to speak during the Euros and is close to reaching a full agreement on personal terms. Villa have also already had an offer of £37.5 million accepted.
Gallagher situation troublesome for Tottenham
It’s not just Villa set to miss out on Gallagher as fellow Premier League team Spurs hold a strong interest in Chelsea’s number 23. Ange Postecoglou, much like Emery, is eager to bolster his midfield options ahead of the new season and Gallagher is a priority target.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is set to depart Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Tanguy Ndombele is to become a free agent and Giovani Lo Celso has been told to find a new club. Ready-made replacements of a European standard are hard to find, so the long wait for Gallagher could prove frustrating.