What Chelsea star Conor Gallagher told West Ham during talks is now the biggest joke of the summer transfer window.
When West Ham sold Declan Rice both David Moyes and co-owner David Sullivan publicly declared they wanted to sign at least two midfielders to replace him.
One of West Ham’s many targets was Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher.
West Ham were in talks with Chelsea over a deal and were trying to negotiate the deal down from the Blues’ £40m valuation.
But any prospect of a move was killed stone dead towards the end of last month when the player made his intentions clear.
And what Chelsea star Gallagher told West Ham during talks is now the biggest joke of the summer transfer window.
What Chelsea star Conor Gallagher told West Ham during talks is now the biggest joke of the summer transfer window
As reported by the likes of The Daily Mail when West Ham were holding discussions with Chelsea over Gallagher, the player made it clear he wanted to stay at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place in the starting XI.
Fast forward three weeks and Gallagher must be asking himself: ‘What was I thinking?’
Because Chelsea have continued their mind-boggling transfer splurge with the signing of Moises Caicedo for a new British record £115m. And now they’re set to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton for around £50m.
With £106m Enzo Fernandez the main man in Chelsea’s midfield, Gallagher’s snub of West Ham now looks a laughable error of judgement.
It’s a case of Moyes Caice-DOH! for Gallagher
Despite a solid performance in Chelsea’s draw with Liverpool, reports are now circulating claiming the England midfielder is one of several players Mauricio Pochettino is happy to sell.
Gallagher has absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near Chelsea’s star XI now.
Had he elected to join West Ham he would have been one of the first names on Moyes’s teamsheet.
It was reported yesterday that a Hammers move for Gallagher may not be completely dead.
There’s self-belief and then there’s just pure naivety
But having signed former Chelsea target Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, it is difficult to see where Gallagher would now fit in at the London Stadium.
If Lucas Paqueta leaves the Hammers will be looking for a creative player in the mould of alleged target Mohammed Kudus rather than a disruptor such as Gallagher.
It’s one thing having belief and self-confidence. But some of these young players will never learn it seems.
Gallagher is a fine player. But Chelsea have not spent over £270m on their new midfield triumvirate to have them sat on the bench behind him.
The 23-year-old and his advisors look to have made a big error not pushing for that West Ham move when it was on the table.
And it remains to be seen whether any clubs of West Ham’s size – playing in Europe – come in for him now.