- Chelsea accepted a £33.7m bid for their academy graduate earlier this week.
- Gallagher’s contract at Stamford Bridge was due to expire at the end of next term
- The 24-year-old captained the team on several occasions under former manager Pochettino.
Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher will travel to Madrid on Monday with the intention of signing a five-year contract with Atletico after negotiations have progressed.
Atletico had agreed a £33.7m deal with Chelsea last week and were pressing for a response today.
Chelsea had made it clear to Gallagher that it was in his best interest to move on after 16 years at Stamford Bridge and talks accelerated with the club on Sunday with a resolution reached in the early hours.
Gallagher will fly with his agent Paul Nicholls to Madrid to finalise terms and everything is expected to be signed for the England international later today.
Tottenham were also kept informed of developments but did not follow through with a rival offer.
Conor Gallagher is set to end his 16-year association with the Blues after agreeing a deal with Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher was told he would have a reduced role under new boss Enzo Maresca.
Atletico faced competition from several clubs, including Tottenham, for the 24-year-old. Pictured: manager Diego Simeone
Chelsea have offered Gallagher a two-year contract with the option of a further year twice, having accepted a £57.5m bid from Aston Villa in June and then Atletico’s offer last week.
The 24-year-old was open to staying at the club, where he was captain last season under Mauricio Pochettino, but wanted a longer-term contract similar to those offered to his teammates.
However, matters came to a head on Friday when he was informed upon returning from holiday that he would not be part of Chelsea’s first-team dressing room and would likely be reduced to a supporting role if he stayed with Enzo Maresca.
It is understood there are concerns that the academy graduate may not adapt to Maresca’s system as speculation linking him with a permanent exit from his boyhood club continues to grow.
Chelsea have reportedly considered Celtic’s Matt O’Riley as a possible midfield replacement. O’Riley scored 18 goals in 37 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic as the team triumphed in the Scottish Premiership last season.
Born in London, O’Riley represented England at multiple youth levels before switching his international allegiance to Denmark and making his senior debut last year.
