Chelsea have struggled to find a stable midfield trio in recent years. Todd Boehly spent upwards of $1 billion on transfers since he took over the club. Big-money signings like Caicedo have disappointed the Chelsea faithful. Even signings like World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez have largely been underwhelming for the Chelsea setup. To make matters worse for Chelsea’s midfield, former Crystal Palace player Conor Gallagher is reportedly on his way out of the club.
His contract is expiring soon, and there have been no talks of a renewal. With him out of the club, Chelsea will need to make a stable signing for their midfield. However, they will have to comply with the FFP situation due to their spending last summer. Although Chelsea have spent so much money on new signings, they have not been able to fight for a single trophy. This has disappointed a lot of fans and players alike.
They will need to find a new midfielder who is not very expensive but also possesses a lot of quality or potential. There are several players who fit this Chelsea criteria but only one has been reportedly shortlisted by the Chelsea setup. The shortlisted player is Manuel Ugarte of Paris Saint-Germain. The Uruguayan midfielder, or defensive midfielder, has been a key player for PSG this season. Ugarte is 23 years old and might be keen on a switch to England.
Chelsea have recentky struggled and will need to go for a cost effective yet proven option. Ugarte has not been getting enough game time at PSG and will look to leave. With Kylian Mbappe on his way out, there will be big changes at the club. The wage bill will open up new possibilities for Luis Enrique to bolster his squad. Ugarte might look for change as well.
Chelsea need a strong profile
Chelsea have lacked in the defensive midfield since they lost N’Golo Kante. Caicedo was signed as his replacement for a massive amount but has largely disappointed when played. Ugarte might be Chelsea’s solution to this issue. Starting his career in Uruguay, Ugarte gained momentum due to his tenacity in the midfield. He was swooped by Sporting in Portugal in 2021, which was a great success for them. He is highly affective during transitions and likes to play the passes that make progress in attacks.
Ugarte is also a player who is strong and likes making tackles and turning over possession for his team. The PSG hierarchy liked what they saw and brought him in to fill holes in the midfield. Verrati left PSG, and Ugarte was coined to be his replacement. He has struggled to find his usual form at the club.
Although he has impressed in some outings, he rarely starts in the first eleven. Vitinha has been impressing in that role, even scoring two against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Chelsea might face some competition from Liverpool and Manchester United for his signing. Even Juventus have shown interest in the 23-year-old.
Chelsea will look to get their man as Conor’s contract will run out at the end of next season. He will easily find a club, given his potential. He has impressed in recent outings as well. Tottenham and West Ham have reportedly already shown interest in Conor Gallagher.
Although there has been interest, Gallagher wants to stick to his boyhood club. He is waiting on a new contract with the Blues. He has not received an offer as of yet. Reports have stated that Pochettino wanted to keep him at the club, but his recent sacking could change things for Gallagher.
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