Chelsea’s rivals are encouraged by the lack of progress on Conor Gallagher’s new contract as they prepare to make a move this summer, with the midfielder approaching the final year of his contract.

Chelsea are approaching a summer in which they could not only lose a leader, Thiago Silva, but also Conor Gallagher, and interested clubs remain encouraged by the lack of a breakthrough on a new deal.

Gallagher, 24, will enter the final year of his contract with the club he joined when he was eight. Talks about extending his stay have been ongoing for several months, but Chelsea insiders say the situation remains the same with five games left in the Premier League season.

Mauricio Pochettino wants his relentless runner to stay, although the manager himself is unsure how much involvement he will be allowed in the club’s transfer business this summer. Previous windows were largely run by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

Chelsea insist their relationship with Gallagher is strong, but they have shown a willingness to sell him in the past and their rivals are ready to pounce this summer.

That includes Tottenham, Chelsea’s opponent this Thursday whose style of play under Ange Postecoglou would suit Gallagher’s qualities. Newcastle, Liverpool, West Ham, Everton, Brighton and Fulham have also previously been linked with the England international.

However, Chelsea will not allow Gallagher to leave cheaply, even if his contract is about to expire.

Mail Sport spoke to an anonymous source from an interested club who revealed that they were told last summer a deal could be agreed for £40m. Despite his shrinking contract, they fear Chelsea will demand even more now after a season in which Gallagher has shown just how talented he is.

Add to that Gallagher’s salary expectations – there is an argument that he should earn £150,000 a week – and he would be an expensive purchase for any potential suitor.

Because of that, the aforementioned source says they are unlikely to seriously pursue Gallagher this summer, curiously saying of Chelsea’s valuations: “We like him, but the numbers don’t add up.” “They overpay, so they expect the clubs to overpay them.”

Certainly, in the case of Tottenham, Chelsea would demand a higher price from Gallagher, as they would prefer to sell him to a club they do not consider a direct rival. Even as this season teeters towards a disappointing end, Chelsea will once again aim for a top-four finish next campaign and do not want to help their competition this summer.

Speculation has been rife that Chelsea are under pressure to sell players this summer in order to pass the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, although the club is convinced that is not an issue. The fact that Gallagher is worth pure profits on the PSR balance sheet, because he came through Chelsea’s academy, is a consideration that will be taken into account.

In a season plagued by injuries, Gallagher’s body has refused to break down, despite having covered more distance than any of his teammates. That reliability is another reason why Pochettino values ​​him so much, having handed him the captain’s armband in the absence of Reece James.

Gallagher partnered Moisés Caicedo in Aston Villa’s midfield, with Enzo Fernández ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing groin surgery. Fernandez had been playing through pain for the past six months using injections and medication to get through games.

Gallagher’s versatility made him a perfect fit for that role as he has generally been used as a number 10 and statistics say he is the best ball presser in the Premier League. He stole possession before Noni Madueke scored and then scored a sublime equalizer that allowed Chelsea to come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Villa Park, once again underlining his importance.

If Gallagher leaves along with Silva this summer, it will be difficult for a Chelsea dressing room that could have suffered a worse season if not for his leadership.