Simon Jordan: “Conor Gallagher is mediocre and not a world champion, Chelsea will surprise people this season”
Simon Jordan says Conor Gallagher's departure should not cause panic at Chelsea and predicted the Blues will do well this season.
Gallagher has He passed the medical examination at Atlético de MadridThe player has ended his 16-year association with the west London club, talkSPORT understands.
The 24-year-old, who wore the armband on numerous occasions for the Blues last season, is set to sign his five-year contract shortly to complete his £33million transfer.
His imminent departure has not gone down well at all. Chelsea fan base, who are devastated to see a homegrown player who has Cobham running through his veins leave.
But White and Jordan, co-presenters of talkSPORT Simon Jordan He is not so sure Blues supporters should be as outraged as they are, suggesting he is not the be-all and end-all of the club's chances of success.
When Jim White said he thought it was a great move for a player of Gallagher's age, the former Crystal Palace owner said: “If you are transferred from a London club or an English Premier League club, regardless of the problems Chelsea have had recently, and you are transferred to Real Madrid or Barcelona, then absolutely.”
“Come on,” White chimed in. “Simon, that's not a bad move.”
“Of course it's not bad,” Jordan replied. “And it's not bad for… Conor GallagherI think Conor Gallagher is gaining a reputation as some sort of world champion, and the reason he might have some success is nonsense.
“They received £40m for a mediocre player, not a bad player, an international player with some recognition.”
After coming through Chelsea's academy, Gallagher was loaned to Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and then Crystal Palace.
He then broke into the first team and has played 95 games in total, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists.
But despite his role in the team over the past two seasons, Jordan believes Chelsea will be fine without him.
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He continued: “I heard Darragh (MacAnthony) raising a very good point with Alex Crook about the outrage over the sale of Conor Gallagher.
“How many people were watching England and saying, 'You know what? We've got to have Conor Gallagher on the pitch because if we don't have him we're not going to win anything'?
“The reality is Chelsea have done some business, they've got a good deal. They've gone down the same path as Kieran Trippier, which is leaving a football club. Nobody could understand why Trippier was leaving Spurs at that time, could they?
“And he went to Atlético, re-emerged in England with even greater potential to be an English player and went to Newcastle, which was a very popular project and had no finances involved.”
Despite this, Jordan has praised Gallagher for the impact he made during his loan spell at Palace in the 2021/22 season.
“I like his energy,” he said. “There's no doubt about it, he's an honest player. He's one of those players that you can put your hat on every game and know that every game you're going to get a seven out of ten from him.”
“But he is not an exceptional player. At Palace what he did was give the team enormous vitality. He worked from the first minute to the 90th minute.”
And while Gallagher moves on, Jordan hopes Chelsea will surprise people this season under new manager Enzo Maresca.
This is despite recent disappointing seasons and questions about the club's management by owners Todd Boehly and company.
“I hope Chelsea get back on track,” he said. “Regardless of how much their owners spend, which is their own money and they may waste it.”
“I still think Chelsea will be. I think they will surprise people this season, I really do.”
Chelsea will begin their season next Sunday against Manchester City.
