wilson88 Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has chosen to avoid talking about the future of midfielder Conor Gallagher amid reports the player is travelling to Spain to agree personal terms with Atletico Madrid, with the responsibility of explaining it to the club’s executives. wilson88

The England international midfielder has not joined the United States on pre-season tour or been back at Cobham after Euro 2024, with the Blues believed to have agreed a £33m deal to sell him to Atletico Madrid.  ( wilson88 ) 

That left Maresca pressed over the 24-year-old’s future during a press conference ahead of their clash with Real Madrid on August 6, with the Italian boss evading the call and saying only what could be said. 

“No one is guaranteed a starting place because if I told them that a certain player would be in the starting 11 consistently – I think it would be a bit disrespectful to others,” Maresca explained. 

“For them, they need to train hard every day, show me, convince me to choose them to play, but this kind of thing is not known in advance.”  

“The Gallagher case at the moment is between the club and the player – whether he stays or leaves.”

“This kind of thing happens at every club, every summer transfer window, and the final decision will be good for all parties.”

“Hopefully the decision will be good for both Conor and Chelsea.”

The England midfielder is a Chelsea product, leading to concerns the club’s academy system could collapse – a concern Maresca says is not about him. 

“The kids from the academy can’t settle in the first team. It’s not Chelsea’s problem, it’s the rules of the industry.” 

“Every club at present is forced to sell players from their academies because of the rules. It is a problem that occurs in every Premier League club in England.” 

The Blues ‘ senior squad currently has a fair number of homegrown talent, apart from Gallagher , including Levi Colwill , Trevoh Chalobah , Alfie Gilchrist , Reece James and Armando Broja.