Aston Villa and Tottenham encouraged as Premier League rivals 'must' sell £50m target

The England international captained the Blues for the final Premier League fixture of the season, a game that may have also been his last for his boyhood club. If it was a farewell, it was an excellent one as Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 to secure a top-eight finish at Stamford Bridge.

Gallagher, 95 times a senior Chelsea appearance maker, is without doubt a key player but talks over a new contract have stalled for several months. The 24-year-old’s current deal expires in June 2025 and the Blues are in need of transfer funds to stay in line with the Premier League’s strict profit and sustainability rules.

The Telegraph reports there’s still no progress over fresh terms, opening the door for interested clubs to try and pry Gallagher away. It’s claimed Tottenham Hotspur, who have been seen as the frontrunners, are big admirers but Villa’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League adds another layer.

Unai Emery’s side are claimed to have made their interest in Gallagher known to Chelsea ahead of a potential summer swoop. The Villans must also sell before they buy for Financial Fair Play reasons, so a potential swap deal could be considered involving Chelsea target Jhon Duran.

That factor could certainly tempt the Blues as the London club have been heavily linked with a move for the Colombian striker. Tottenham, meanwhile, could fall further back in the race due to the Duran aspect. That’s unless they try and offer one of their own key players to Chelsea, of course, or bid an astronomical amount.

It’s reported Gallagher has previously been valued at around £50 million, though that figure might drop considering the 12-time England international only has 13 months left on his current deal. This could certainly be a saga to keep track of.