West Ham United stance on Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher shared amid wage revelation
A well-placed source at West Ham has issued an update on Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher with Tottenham also keen on signing him, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper reported on 29 February that the Hammers are unlikely to re-enter the race to sign the England international.
Any deal involving Gallagher is understood to be north of £45million and the 24-year-old would command wages of £150k/week.
The report reads: “West Ham are among those to have shown an interest in previous windows, yet one well-placed source has talked down the prospect of them re-entering the race.
“Chelsea would much rather deal with the likes of them than commit transfer treason with Tottenham, though West Ham sense the asking fee will still be north of £45million. Not a crazy valuation by Chelsea’s standards, considering Mason Mount was sold to Manchester United for £55m rising to £60m with a year remaining and they wanted £50m for Armando Broja in January.
“Yet Gallagher’s performances on the pitch are also impacting the wages he can command in the event of an exit, which West Ham suspect will stand at around £150,000 per week. This, the source says, is likely to limit his availability to clubs competing in the Champions League.”
Gallagher may not be needed at London Stadium
The midfielder’s asking price of over £45million is excessively high for a player who’s struggled to maintain consistency.
Given the Hammers’ financial constraints, such a significant investment in a single player may not be prudent.
Secondly, Gallagher’s wage demands of around £150,000 per week could potentially disrupt the club’s wage structure and cause unrest among existing players.
Furthermore, signing Gallagher would limit the club’s ability to pursue other transfer targets who may offer better value for money or address more pressing needs within the squad.
A striker is likely to be the priority in the summer as they look pretty well stacked in midfield.
Lastly, the presence of Tottenham as potential suitors adds another layer of complexity to any potential deal.
Competing with a Premier League rival for Gallagher’s signature could drive up his price even further and make negotiations more difficult.
In other West Ham news, a David Moyes sack admission has been made with David Sullivan talking to Tim Steidten.
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