Unai Emery is understood to be seriously interested in bringing Gallagher to Villa Park and a window of opportunity is likely to arise with Chelsea needing to sell in order to comply with profit and sustainability (PSR) rules.
Villa must sort resolve PSR issues of their own before making big-money signings but Gallagher is expected to be one of the first targets they turn to. Ross Barkley looks set to be Villa’s first acquisition of the window as a low-cost deal closes with Luton Town but Emery wants yet another midfielder.
Gallagher, formerly a loanee at Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City, played 92 per cent of the minutes available to him in the Premier League last season. Five goals and seven assists only scratched the surface as Gallagher impressed in an array of midfield roles.
The fact the 24-year-old is an academy graduate makes him a perfect sacrifice to fix the Blues’ PSR problems. Any sale would be pure profit as far as the Premier League is concerned, making the task of avoiding sanctions far simpler. Further funds may still need to be raised but Gallagher’s exit would be a huge help.
Of course, losing a player of such a high calibre will hurt the Blues but the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were always planned to be the star men in the centre of the park. Incoming head coach Enzo Maresca certainly won’t be short of options, even if Gallagher does get on his merry way.
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