West Ham United made a £40 million bid for England international Conor Gallagher this summer. However, the bid was turned down by Chelsea, as reported by Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian.
Gallagher has a long history with Chelsea, having been part of their academy since he was eight years old in 2008. He spent 11 years developing in the youth ranks before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2019.
The midfielder spent the initial three seasons of his career on loan, playing for Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace.
It was during his time at Crystal Palace that he gained recognition, scoring eight goals in the Premier League and earning the club’s Player of the Season award.
His impressive performances also caught the attention of the England national team selectors, and he earned his first senior cap in November 2021.
Must Read: Chelsea express interest in signing Ajax sensation Mohammed Kudus
Since then, Gallagher has made seven appearances for England and was included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar last year.
Last season, he had the opportunity to showcase his talent at Chelsea, making 45 appearances across all competitions and scoring three goals.
Despite the hopes that new manager Mauricio Pochettino would give him a chance to prove himself at Stamford Bridge this season, recent reports indicate that Gallagher is now considered surplus to requirements and will be put up for sale in the upcoming weeks.
West Ham made an opening bid for the 23-year-old, who had previously been on loan at Swansea, but their offer of £37 million upfront and an additional £3 million in add-ons was rejected.
After the departure of star player Declan Rice to Arsenal for a significant sum, West Ham have substantial funds at their disposal in the transfer market. However, as of now, they have yet to make any signings during the current transfer window.
Also Read: Roberto De Zerbi still counting on Moises Caicedo to stay at Brighton
The Hammers will be eager to find a suitable replacement for Rice, especially after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, finishing in 14th place, just six points above the drop zone.
However, securing a new midfielder at a reasonable price could prove challenging. As a result of their financial capabilities, selling clubs are aware that West Ham has money to spend and will demand higher prices for their players in the midfield positions.
