Midfield star Liverpool wanted last summer 'available' for £50m with Aston Villa & Tottenham 'interested'

Chelsea midfielder and former Liverpool target Conor Gallagher is said to be available this summer for a fee ‘in excess of £50m’.

The England international was one of Chelsea’s best players last season playing 50 times and totalling over 4000 minutes of action in an all-action campaign with seven goals and nine assists in total. Last summer, he was one player who was reportedly on Liverpool’s list when they looked to replace Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and, one year later, he is available.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano who has confirmed that there is interest from multiple clubs and a fee in excess of £50m is being asked for. “Chelsea are prepared to ask for fee in excess of £50m for Conor Gallagher this summer. After Mount deal last summer, Chelsea see Gallagher in similar position with Aston Villa, Tottenham and one club from abroad keen on signing him. No negotiations taking place yet.”

Chelsea are also a club that has to be careful when it comes to financial spending; reports have stipulated that they may have to allow a homegrown talent to leave to abide by profit and sustainability rules. Either Trevoh Chalobah or Gallagher could depart as both have suitors in England and abroad.

However, Gallagher has recently spoken out on the future of the club after Enzo Maresca’s appointment this week. “Myself and everyone at Chelsea are excited and happy to work with Enzo Maresca. We want to get Chelsea back to where they belong!”, he told Sky. Given he captained the side on 30 occasions last season, a move away seems unlikely but the club revealing a price tag is certainly evidence that a move may have to be sanctioned.

The Reds were linked with a last summer, with Chelsea also in a similar position when it comes to their financials. His all-action approach would have gelled brilliantly with Jurgen Klopp’s style of play and he had the most touches, minutes and appearances as he covered the fourth-highest distance across the Premier League last season. Instead, Liverpool spent £150m on new midfielders and covered the positions that Gallagher would play if he arrived at the club but he is available once more.