After a really impressive 2021/22 season on loan at Crystal Palace, there were big expectations on Conor Gallagher's shoulders when he returned to Chelsea last summer.
"I am a huge fan of Conor," former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said last summer. "He is a fantastic guy and this is what we already knew. In the first weeks of training, he has shown how much of a step he has made through having so much playing time, through his personality on the pitch."
The 23-year-old midfielder came back to the Blues, looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who had all been key figures for the club after graduating from the academy system. So the pathway looked clear for Gallagher to do the same last season but it definitely did not live up to expectations for the England international.
But, then again, it was hardly an ideal campaign for Chelsea as a club so picking out one individual who did not perform well seems unfair. However, Gallagher was unable to really find a defined role in any of the multiple systems used at Stamford Bridge over the course of what was a really frustrating season.
Gallagher, though, did feature 45 times for Chelsea in all competitions but a lot of those 24 appearances came from the substitutes' bench. He almost established a role as an impact sub, where he would come on in different circumstances. Sometimes to inject more energy and sometimes to sit in front of the defence – depending on how the game was going.
football.london understands Chelsea will listen to offers for Gallagher should they come in. That probably is to be expected given there is so much interest from other Premier League clubs in the England midfielder.
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As reported last month, Tottenham have emerged as surprise contenders for Gallagher's signature with Ange Postecoglou supposedly a big fan of the midfielder. Spurs will not be the only ones in the race, however, with Newcastle United also considering their options regarding Gallagher.
New head coach Mauricio Pochettino has officially begun his role now and he will take training with his players for the first time this week. Pochettino will meet his players and take training at Cobham, but Gallagher, who was on international duty with England last month, is expected to join the sessions at a later date.
Gallagher will have five pre-season games, against Wrexham, Brighton, Newcastle United, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund, to prove his worth to Pochettino. In those games, the Argentine coach will experiment with a number of players, including Gallagher, as he gets to grips with his new squad.
If Pochettino has a plan with Gallagher for these games, then it could go some way in deciding his future at the club. He needs a defined role in the squad, whatever that is, otherwise he risks being moved on in the summer transfer window.
