Aston Villa told £40m+ Conor Gallagher deal with Chelsea doable amid Douglas Luiz latest
Dan Bardell believes Aston Villa would need to make a sale before being able to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, with Douglas Luiz looking the most likely departure this summer.
The Brazilian could be set to leave Villa Park with a move to Juventus now getting “increasingly close”, according to reports from Italy (11 June).
The Villans would receive Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior in a swap deal for Luiz but they could still look to add further midfield reinforcements.
Unai Emery is a “huge admirer” of Gallagher and he could prove to be a replacement option this summer with talks already held [David Ornstein].
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell has suggested the sale of Luiz would make way for Villa to sign the Englishman.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “Villa can’t bring Conor Gallagher in without a sale because Chelsea are going to want £40m to £50m for him. They are in a similar boat to Villa to comply with PSR.
“Although Chelsea probably don’t want to lose him he’s probably the easiest to sell. There’s genuine interest, Unai Emery really likes Gallagher and the last time he really wanted someone was Morgan Rogers and the club pushed that through.
“I don’t think Villa will sign him unless they lose a midfielder and obviously it looks like that will be Douglas Luiz.
“I think if Gallagher is to move this summer, I think it will be to Villa because I don’t envisage him as a Chelsea boy going to Tottenham who are the other team interested.“
Aston Villa could replace Douglas Luiz with Conor Gallagher
It is set to be a very frustrating start to the transfer window for Emery and the Villa faithful as they look set to lose a key player already.
The nature of FFP and PSR means that the Villans need to recoup some fees to balance the books and comply with the rules.
With a deadline set for the end of June to bring money in, the departure of Luiz looks set to be confirmed in the coming days or weeks.
The Brazilian has come on leaps and bounds since Emery came in and alongside Boubacar Kamara formed an excellent base to the Villa midfield.
That looks set to be broken up with Gallagher potentially set to step in and take up the mantle from the Brazil international.
They certainly offer different qualities but there is no doubt that the Englishman would be a superb signing and a very useful addition to the squad.
It is a transfer that will hurt and leave Villa fans sad and annoyed but given that it is necessary for PSR, it is one that ultimately makes sense.
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