Chelsea are insisting on a fee of more than £40m for Conor Gallagher amid interest in the midfielder from West Ham.
West Ham are keen on a deal to sign Gallagher as the club consider replacements for Declan Rice and have placed the England international on a shortlist of potential options.
Gallagher is currently with Chelsea on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States and the west Londoners are planning with the midfielder as part of their squad for next season after a host of midfield departures this summer.
However, Gallagher – who has two years remaining on his contract – could push for an exit in search of a guaranteed role after struggling to establish himself at Chelsea last season.
Gallagher has won seven caps for England under Gareth Southgate and will be keen to ensure regular minutes in the lead up to next summer’s European Championship.
Sky Sports are reporting that Chelsea will demand a fee of around £40m for the 23-year-old, having rejected a similar offer from Everton in January.
West Ham have already seen a £45m bid rejected by Fulham for Joao Palhinha, while the club are also interested in Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, Ajax’s Edson Alvarez and Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria.
