August 18th 2024.
It's been a whirlwind of a summer for Chelsea, with a lot of transfer rumors and activity swirling around the club. One player that has been heavily linked with a move is Conor Gallagher, and the latest reports suggest that Atletico Madrid is the destination. However, as the Blues gear up for their Premier League opener against Manchester City, Gallagher is not the only player missing from the matchday squad.
Along with Gallagher, strikers Romelu Lukaku and Armando Broja are also absent. It's been a busy transfer window for Chelsea, with 10 new players arriving at Stamford Bridge. The likes of Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Filip Jorgensen have all joined the club, along with several others, in what has been a significant squad overhaul.
But the work is not done yet, as manager Enzo Maresca is still looking to bring in more attacking reinforcements before the transfer deadline. Names like Joao Felix, who previously had a loan spell with the Blues, and Victor Osimhen have been linked with the club.
In terms of departures, several players have left the club, including Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, and Diego Moreira, who have been sold for a combined fee of around £103 million. Additionally, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, and Hakim Ziyech have also left on free transfers.
As for Gallagher's potential move to Atletico Madrid, talks have been ongoing throughout the summer. However, Chelsea's unsuccessful pursuit of Samu Omorodion has caused some complications, leaving the English midfielder in limbo at the moment.
Meanwhile, Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at Roma, has been offered to Napoli as a potential makeweight in a deal for Osimhen. And Broja could be on his way to Ipswich. It's uncertain where these three players will end up, but one thing is for sure, they won't be playing in Chelsea's opener against Manchester City.
Another notable absence from the squad is left-back Ben Chilwell, who is rumored to be a target for Manchester United. Manager Maresca confirmed that Gallagher has returned from his time in Spain but is currently training alone as he looks for a solution with the club.
With 43 players on the books, Chelsea is working to trim down their squad. Maresca mentioned that only 28 players have been training with the first-team, showing that there is still a lot of work to be done before the transfer window closes.
One move that Chelsea is hopeful to finalize is the signing of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid. It's believed that the Blues have agreed on personal terms with the player, and their latest offer of £39.2 million, plus bonuses, is close to Atleti's valuation of the Portuguese international.
Atleti's head coach, Simeone, has praised Felix's attitude and commitment, saying that he is training well and ready to compete with his teammates. He also mentioned that time will tell if Felix will be available for their upcoming match.
As the transfer window winds down, Chelsea fans can expect more news and updates as the club works to finalize their squad for the upcoming season. Will Gallagher finally make his move to Atletico Madrid? And will Chelsea secure the signing of Joao Felix? Only time will tell.
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