Chelsea agree deal with Atletico Madrid for Samu Omorodion, Conor Gallagher set to travel for medical

By premiernews On Aug 7, 2024

Chelsea have agreed a £34.5million (€40m) deal with Atletico Madrid for striker Samu Omorodion.

Should the deal progress, Omorodion will sign a seven-year contract with the option of a further year that would run until 2032, with the finer details still being worked on.

Conor Gallagher, meanwhile, is set to travel to Spain to complete his €42m move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid.

The Athletic reported last week that the Spanish side were in advanced talks with Chelsea about signing Gallagher with a fee of €42million (£36m) agreed between the two clubs.

The England international is now expected to undergo a medical on Thursday ahead of signing a five-year deal in the Spanish capital.

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The Athletic reported that the developments regarding striker Julian Alvarez had resulted in Atletico softening their resistance to selling Omorodion. Atletico have agreed a deal worth up to €95million (£81.8m; $104m) with Manchester City for Alvarez.

In June, Chelsea had a €32.5m (£27.4m) plus add-ons offer for Omorodion rejected. The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Deportivo Alaves, where he scored nine goals and provided one assist, contributing to their 10th-place finish in La Liga.

Chelsea have looked at a number of striker targets this summer and any deal for Omorodion is separate from ongoing negotiations between Chelsea and Napoli for Romelu Lukaku and Victor Osimhen, which are expected to continue.

Born to Nigerian parents, Omorodion has pledged his international allegiance to Spain and has been called up to both their under-19 and under-21 national teams.

Gallagher is set to leave Chelsea (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The Athletic reported last week Gallagher, whose current deal expires next summer, had rejected a second two-year contract offer from Chelsea which would have made put him on wages comparable to Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Chelsea are determined to avoid a repeat of the Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen situation in 2022 when both players were able to leave as free agents after their contracts expired.

Speaking before Chelsea’s pre-season match against Manchester City in Columbus, Ohio, head coach Enzo Maresca said: “The only thing I can say is I know he is in contact with the club to find a solution.

“The club offered him a new contract. But this is, at the moment, the only news I received.”

Chelsea begin their 2024-25 Premier League campaign at home to champions Manchester City on August 18.