Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has detailed his transfer stance on Conor Gallagher and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with the duo both linked with moves to Newcastle United.
Tuchel says both players will have to 'fight' to get into his starting XI, with loan moves for the pair a possibility.
Both players have been linked with Newcastle this suimmer, with Gallagher the fourth-choice central-midfielder for Chelsea, and the Blues currently only play with two in the middle of the pitch. The 22-year-old came on as an 89th minute substitute in Chelsea's opening day win at Everton, but the former Crystal Palace loanee will want regular game time with the World Cup on the horizon.
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"Conor fights in central midfield," said Tuchel. "To be honest, it is a very tough fight for him because, at the moment, it seems we only have two places in central midfield. Given the amount of players we have for central midfield, it isn't ideal, I agree. But we have to do what's best for the squad, not just for each individual player.
"I am a huge fan of Conor. 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.
"We are happy with him. He keeps on fighting, and this is what he does. I think he has everything to become very important in the next years at Chelsea."
There are suggestions that Newcastle could sign Gallagher permanently, and Tuchel gave a philosophical answer when asked if the midfielder was for sale.
"In general, nobody is for sale," he said. "Nobody is for sale, and everybody is for sale. It depends on what the player wants, how bad the player wants it, what we think about who is ready to pay a certain amount of money and then maybe everybody is for sale."
Hudson-Odoi did not make Chelsea's squad for their win at Everton. football.london understands that the likes of Leicester City and Southampton could rival Newcastle for a loan move for the 21-year-old.
"Callum is the same," said Tuchel. "He had a long-term injury and long-term problems to overcome. That's where he suffered from. I think he still has a way to go to live up to his potential. His potential is huge.
"At the moment, he is our player, and he needs to fight, fight, fight. I have nothing more to say."
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