Chelsea chiefs left red-faced after missing out on huge Conor Gallagher windfall

Conor Gallagher's move to Atletico Madrid is in serious doubt - but the Blues have already missed opportunities to sell the midfielder and bank far more than the £33million they'd agreed with the La Liga outfit.

The ex-Blues skipper, who wore the armband for the majority of last season, has been unable to sort a new contract with the club and is now ready to seek pastures new. It appeared as though Madrid would be his next home and he was pictured at the Wanda Metropolitano.

However the collapse of the imminent transfer of Samu Omorodion, who was poised to join Chelsea for £35m, has meant that Gallagher has remained in limbo with no deal yet signed.

The Blues could miss out on the chance to bank pure profit on their academy graduate, but have already seen huge deals pass them by. The Daily Mail reports how they could've sealed a deal for Everton 18 months ago for a hefty £45m.

Last summer it emerged that Tottenham were keen in a move that would've proved controversial. Nevertheless the north Londoners were willing to part with £51m to acquire Gallagher but on both occasions the transfer failed to materialise.

It is understood that, when the two parties failed to make progress in contract talks, Gallagher was reluctant to leave but Chelsea called him back from his holiday to tell him that if he didn’t leave or accept a new contract he would be forced to train with the ‘bomb squad’ - the players the club no longer wants.

Enzo Maresca has a host of midfielders at his disposal, including £200m pair Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, and Gallagher doesn't appear to be part of his plans. That said, the new boss blamed the Premier League's financial rules for Chelsea's decision to cash in.

He said: "I also think the intention of the club is not to sell players from the academy but it is the rules at the end that you have to do it. It's not only us, it's all the Premier League clubs. It's a shame because in Italy, we have Totti with Roma, 20 years with the same club. One-club-man, we love that in football, the fans want to see that. But with the rules now it is different than the past."

Gallagher now remains in limbo as Atletico, after failing to sell Omorodion to Chelsea, are now hoping that the Blues will want to take Joao Felix off their books. That would then free up the funds for them to land the England midfielder.

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