Spanish side waiting for Chelsea star to decide on future

Chelsea face the toughest test of their pre-season so far when they face Premier League champions Manchester City in a friendly on Saturday evening. 

New Blues boss Enzo Maresca – who worked under Pep Guardiola at The Etihad – will get an understanding of what his side can expect when they host the Citizens on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

The Blues have drawn against Wrexham, lost to Celtic and beaten Club America so far this summer, and Maresca will expect to see his side improve considerably before the start of the new campaign later this month.

In the meantime, one of Chelsea’s fan favourites is making a big decision on his own future.

As per Fabrizio Romano, Spanish side Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal with Chelsea for Conor Gallagher, and are now waiting on the player to make a decision.

It is claimed that the La Liga side have reached an agreement with their Premier League counterparts for a deal worth around £33 million.

Gallagher himself must now decide whether or not to swap London for the Spanish capital.

Gallagher is a fans’ favourite at Stamford Bridge

The Englishman, who was art of the Three Lions squad at the Euros in Germany this summer, joined Chelsea’s youth academy at the age of eight.

He spent time on loan at both West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace when he first ventured into senior football, but the central midfielder has been part of the Chelsea squad over the past two seasons.

In total he has played 95 times for his boyhood club, captaining the Blues on several occasions under Mauricio Pochettino last term.

Gallagher’s contract is set to expire next summer, though, and the player hasn’t yet agreed an extension with his current employers.

Chelsea, like many Premier League clubs, need to sell players this summer to ensure that they don’t break profit and sustainability rules.