June 6th 2024.
According to former Chelsea star Wayne Bridge, the club is currently going through a tough time. He believes that selling Conor Gallagher this summer would be a big mistake as he is their second best player. The midfielder has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, with Aston Villa and Tottenham showing interest in him.
On one hand, it would make sense for Chelsea to sell Gallagher as he is a homegrown talent and the £50m they would receive could help them comply with the Profit and Sustainability Rules. However, the 24-year-old was one of their most consistent and impressive players last season. Bridge sees the potential sale as a reflection of the poor management at the club.
In Bridge's words, "Chelsea just surprise me all the time at the moment." He goes on to say that it has been a "shambles" at the club and the fact that Gallagher's name is even being mentioned in transfer talks only further proves his point. Bridge believes that Gallagher is their second-best player after Cole Palmer and the club's decisions seem to be all over the place.
With the recent hiring of Enzo Maresca as manager, Bridge hopes that he will have the opportunity to assess the squad and make decisions. However, he also acknowledges that Maresca may not have much say in the transfer dealings during the summer window. "He needs to get in there and see all the players before he makes a decision," says Bridge. "I don't think you can rush to a decision until you know exactly what's going on."
As for Gallagher, he only has one year left on his contract at Chelsea and Aston Villa has made an offer to sign him. The Blues are demanding a hefty £50m for his signature. It remains to be seen whether Maresca will have the chance to work with Gallagher or if he will be sold to another club.
In the end, Bridge emphasizes the importance of a manager getting to know his players before making decisions. "Sometimes, as a manager, you can see players week in, week out, but when you start working with them, they're not like you thought." Hopefully, Maresca will have the opportunity to assess his squad and make informed decisions for the future of Chelsea.
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