Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has said it would be a ‘travesty’ if the club sold Conor Gallagher this month.
Gallagher has been linked with an exit from Chelsea as the club look to balance the books, with Tottenham rumoured to be interested in signing the England midfielder.
The 23-year-old has been an almost ever-present in the Premier League this season and has impressed with his work-rate in Mauricio Pochettino’s side, though speculation continues to surround a possible transfer in the January window.
Cole has called on the club’s owners to turn down all approaches for Gallagher this winter and has backed the academy graduate to become a ‘massive player’ for the West Londoners.
“He’s got ability. Believe me, I’ve seen him up close, he’s a very talented player,” Cole told the Obi One podcast, hosted by former Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel.
“I think he’ll keep getting better in the same way that Jordan Henderson did at Liverpool. I think it would be a travesty if Chelsea let him go. They’re talking about homegrown players, then talking about him going to Tottenham! Please don’t. If I could speak to the owners now…
“Two ex-Chelsea players sat here, who watch Chelsea all the time, and we’ve both singled him out. Is Conor as gifted as Enzo (Fernandez)? Arguably not, technically, but if I’m picking a team I need to win he’s playing every week.
“If someone’s listening at the club, please, please keep Conor Gallagher. Forget how much money he’s worth on the spreadsheet, find the money somewhere else. The kid’s going to get better and better and he’s going to be a massive player for Chelsea.”
