/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/12/22/3849393-78220788-2560-1440.jpg "Chelsea could sell Conor Gallagher for £50 million to fund Brentford forward Ivan Toney bid – Paper Round")
Blues could sell Gallagher to fund Toney bid
Chelsea could reportedly sell Conor Gallagher to raise funds to buy Ivan Toney in January.
Reports suggest The Blues are willing to part with Gallagher – but would demand £50 million for the midfielder.
The sale could allow them to pursue a move for Brentford striker Toney, who scored 20 league goals last season and returns next month after serving a ban for breaching betting rules.
“Chelsea are willing to sell him next month in a bid to balance the books and comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.
“And according to ESPN, they want £50m for the midfielder.
“Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham have all been linked with a move for Gallagher.
“The Hammers, Spurs and Everton all failed to sign him with bids of around £40m this summer.
“But a slightly higher offer next month could persuade Chelsea to green-light a sale.
“The Blues are determined to sign a new striker in January, with Ivan Toney understood to be on Mauricio Pochettino’s transfer wishlist.
“However, they will need to raise funds by selling players first – and offloading Gallagher would come with the most efficient financial benefits because he is a home-grown player.
“Brentford want up to £80m for Toney, with Arsenal also interested.”
Arsenal retain ‘strong interest’ in Zubimendi
Arsenal’s interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi “remains strong”.
The Gunners have been consistently linked with the 24-year-old and they could finally make their move in the January transfer window if reports are to be believed.
“According to The Athletic, the North London club ‘will be on alert’ once the window opens but any new arrivals will depend on the usual considerations such as injuries, profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
“While it goes on to explain how they may have to sell in order to splash the cash, it also states that they could reignite a potential swoop for a man they missed out on a year ago.
“Having ‘explored’ the idea of signing 24-year-old midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad previously, their ‘interest remains strong’ in him.
“The ace has come through the ranks with the LaLiga side and he played a key role in helping them to qualify for this season’s Champions League.
“The star’s skillset has often been likened to Man City’s fellow Spaniard Rodri, and his displays are also catching the eye elsewhere.”
Phillips tells City he’s ‘ready to leave’
Kalvin Phillips has made it clear to Manchester City that he is “ready to leave in January”.
“Kalvin Phillips has told Manchester City he is ready to leave in January, with Newcastle and Juventus among those interested in signing the England midfielder on loan until the end of the season,” the article reads.
“Pep Guardiola has made clear that Phillips is not part of his plans after allowing him four appearances in the Premier League this season, all as a substitute.
“The 28-year-old is understood to have accepted he must leave City to secure his place in England’s squad for Euro 2024 having failed to make a first-team breakthrough under Guardiola since his £42m move from Leeds in the summer of 2022.
“Representatives for Phillips are believed to have held talks with City in recent days in an attempt to find him a new club and expect the treble winners to sanction a loan despite City’s preference to find a buyer if possible. It remains to be seen whether any agreement would include an option to make the deal permanent, although there appears to be no future for him at the Etihad under Guardiola.
“Newcastle have a longstanding interest in Phillips and are keen to strengthen their midfield after Sandro Tonali was banned for 10 months in October for breaching betting rules. Eddie Howe’s side appear to be the frontrunners, although they face a challenge to structure a deal that would keep within their stretched financial fair play budget. Several other Premier League clubs are understood to have shown interest, and Juventus have been in contact with Phillips’ representatives to explore a short-term deal but it is unclear whether he would be prepared to move overseas at this stage of his career.
“Another potential stumbling block could be his £130,000-a-week salary, with City likely to demand that the majority, if not all, is covered.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
