With Conor Gallagher set to take the next step in his career as a move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid looks to be on the horizon, it’s time to look at what the Blues could miss once he moves on and who could fill the void he will leave behind.
Chelsea to Lose Loyal Midfielder
The Latest on the Rumour
Fabrizio Romano gave an update on the future of Gallagher, saying that Atletico and Chelsea are on the verge of shaking hands on a deal for the Englishman, a €35-40m package almost agreed, with the player’s final decision on the transfer all that needs to be confirmed.
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In the two years that Gallagher has been a member of the Chelsea first team, he has proved that there aren’t many players who are as committed to the cause as he is. A workhorse of a midfielder, he ranked first for distance covered in the Blues squad last year (134.6km), the fifth-highest total in the Premier League.
Other than N’Golo Kante, there hasn’t been someone with an engine like Gallagher’s at Stamford Bridge, and the club will be hard-pressed to find someone like him to seamlessly slot into Enzo Maresca’s squad. However, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Chelsea might be already well-prepared for a future without the Cobham graduate.
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The 2023/24 Leicester City Player of the Season followed Maresca to SW6 this summer after the pair guided the Foxes to Championship glory, securing an immediate return to England’s top division, and comparing the two Englishmen’s 23/24 stats, Chelsea may not have to worry about KDH’s transition to top-level football.
What the Stats Say
While Gallagher edged Dewsbury-Hall in metrics such as successful dribbles per 90 (1.9 to 1.4) and tackles and interceptions (2.9 to 1.4 and 1.6 to 0.5 respectively), the new signing from Leicester offered that element of control which is key to how Maresca will want to play this season.
Dewsbury-Hall committed considerably fewer fouls per 90 than Gallagher last year (0.7 to 2.6), a part of the latter’s game that hampered Chelsea at times last campaign, so the less-erratic style of the new signing could be a breath of fresh air for Blues fans.
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The 25-year-old was seemingly more adept at stopping attacks being built last season, tackling 62.5% of dribblers that came his way, while his 24-year-old colleague likewise stopped 39%.
The Leicester youth product will also offer more in the attacking phase of play, with key passes per 90 (2.5 to 1.0), through balls (0.41 to 0.15) and scoring contributions (0.71 to 0.20) all something that will help offer a different dynamic to the Blues. This will hopefully lessen the workloadload on Cole Palmer, who scored 25 of Chelsea’s 103 goals in all competitions last year, seven more than striker Nicolas Jackson.
The Conclusion
Despite the two Englishmen offering slightly different options in midfield, Dewsbury-Hall’s talents in the advanced areas of the pitch are something that would be welcomed with open arms by Blues fans. Despite Palmer’s scoring touch last season, there were still instances where Chelsea dropped silly points due to poor finishing when it mattered most so this new addiiton will hopefully be key in converting those misses into goals.
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In addition, Gallagher’s all-action style was a perfect fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy last year where fitness was key, so there is no guarantee that despite the traits that the 24-year-old possesses, he will have the same effect under Maresca as he did the Argentine boss.
With Romeo Lavia also returning to full fitness – the Belgian defensive midfielder well-known by Maresca having played under him in the Manchester City youth team – perhaps this is the right time for Gallagher to start a new chapter, going to play Champions League football under one of Europe’s most demanding and dogged managers in Diego Simeone.
