EXCLUSIVE
Conor Gallagher exiled from Chelsea first-team as Enzo Maresca addresses his future
Chelsea have informed Conor Gallagher he is no longer part of the first-team group, talkSPORT understands.
The Blues have accepted a £33million bid from Atletico Madrid for the midfielder but he will only leave on his own terms.
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Gallagher, who is out of contract in 2025, has rejected two recent offers from Chelsea over a two-year extension, taking issue with the length of the deal.
Now, talkSPORT understands the Blues have told the 24-year-old he will not be training with the first-team when they return from their tour of the United States.
They will hold further talks with Gallagher on Friday as they look to resolve his future, with their latest contract offer still on the table.
The England international was spotted at Cobham on Friday and is yet to enter talks with Atletico Madrid, who want an answer from Gallagher by the end of the weekend.
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Addressing his future on Friday night, Enzo Maresca said: "The only thing I can say is he is in contact with the club to find a solution. The club offered him a new contract, but at the moment this is the only news I have received.
"I don't think it's something new. In football, every summer, some club has a problem with some player and at the end they find a solution where everyone is happy. Hopefully it can happen in this situation."
Maresca added: "The squad we have, they are all players where if they're in the squad, I will do my best to try and use them and help them to play the way we want to play.
"At the moment, until the player is in the squad, I don't have any problem. The problem is that while the transfer window is open anything can happen.
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"The main focus for the club, for Conor and for me is to find a solution. When they find a solution I think everyone is going to be happy, but until then it's difficult to say the best solution."
Gallagher started 37 Premier League games for the Blues last season and believes he deserves a long-term deal, in light of recent eight-year contracts for players such as Moises Caicedo.
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The midfielder has been at Chelsea since the age of eight and deputised as captain in the absence of Reece James last term.
However, it is understood Chelsea do not expect Gallagher to be a regular first-team starter in the coming seasons under new manager Maresca, with his possession-based style of football.
talkSPORT understands there are concerns that a long-term contract offer would be a financial mistake, while they cannot give Gallagher any guarantees over playing time.
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Chelsea do not want to lose Gallagher on a free transfer in 2025 if they cannot agree on fresh terms to keep him in west London.
talkSPORT previously reported that Gallagher will only make the move to the Wanda Metropolitano if the terms are right for him.
He does not want to be forced out of his boyhood club against his will having been one of Chelsea's most important and consistent players last term.
Having progressed through the academy, Gallagher made his senior Chelsea debut in August 2022 following four loan spells with Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Swansea.
In 95 appearances for the club, Gallagher has contributed 10 goals and 10 assists for the Blues.
Chelsea's decision to banish him from training is likely to infuriate the club's fanbase, who have already expressed outrage over the treatment of their academy graduate.
Speaking on Wednesday, talkSPORT host and diehard Blues fan Rory Jennings said: "This is a disgrace and it's an outrage.
"If this doesn't provoke Chelsea fans to take to the streets of the Fulham Road to say that enough is enough, Clearlake need to take some responsibility.
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"They are dismantling the club. The club is a shadow of the club that they took over. If this isn't the catalyst for us to genuinely protest, I don't know what will be.
"This is another academy product, who already has a rapport with the fans, being sacrificed so our faceless sporting directors can play this ridiculous game of Championship Manager.
“Yes, he does split the fanbase to a degree, but certainly for match going fans Conor Gallagher would have felt nothing but love at Stamford Bridge.
“His banner comes out all the time, he was a captain of the club, there is only love for him there.
“There is a debate as to how good a footballer he is. I think he's a very good player. I think there is always room for a Conor Gallagher in our team.
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“Let's also remember, and I don't want this to sound at all disrespectful to Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, but Conor Gallagher was playing for England, he was a Euros finalist with England. We're replacing him with Kieran Dewsbury Hall, he's a Championship player. Chelsea have therefore got worse.”
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