An Aston Villa summer transfer target has demonstrated exactly why Unai Emery is a big fan according to The Athletic journalist Jacob Tanswell.
With a Champions League campaign on the horizon, Aston Villa have a busy summer to get their squad ready to compete with Europe’s elite alongside their Premier League aspirations.
Unai Emery knows that this will be made more difficult by the financial constraints associated with Premier League profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), with Villa having to make sales to ensure compliance.
It is for that reason that Jhon Duran is expected to join Chelsea for a fee of around £40 million, whilst Douglas Luiz also looks set to join Juventus.
Once the books are balanced by those sales, Villa can concentrate on adding to their squad and one player showed for his country last night exactly why Emery is keen to bring him to Villa Park.
Unai Emery a big fan of Conor Gallagher
Villa’s interest in Conor Gallagher is not new, with the club having identified the midfielder as a potential target for this summer.
With the 24-year-old set to enter the final year of his Chelsea contract, and the Stamford Bridge club having their own PSR concerns, a sale seemed likely this summer.
Chelsea may still offer the player a new contract with Gallagher said to be keen to stay at his boyhood club, but it is likely if a club meet their £50 million valuation they will sell rather than risking losing him for free next summer.
Gallagher came on as a substitute in England’s Euros opener on Sunday, with his energy introduced to help see out the 1-0 win over Serbia.
The Athletic‘s Jacob Tanswell was quick to point out that his display showed exactly why Emery is so keen on his signing.
Tanswell posted on ‘X’: ‘You saw why Conor Gallagher is likely to come in as the tournament goes deeper – brought energy, pounced on second balls and is the type of midfield-scurrier that brings balance. It’s why Unai Emery really (really) likes him.’
Gallagher would help get Aston Villa Champions League ready
If Villa are able to add Gallagher to their ranks this summer then it would represent a real coup.
The Chelsea academy product wore the captain’s armband on multiple occasions under Mauricio Pochettino last season and fit his high-pressing style.
However, new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is very much cut from the same cloth as Pep Guardiola; for whom he was assistant manager before leaving to take the Leicester City job last summer.
Gallagher’s best work is arguably done out of possession, with his all-action style less compatible with a manager focused on possession and control.
Therefore, Chelsea may still deem the player who scored seven goals and provided nine assists last season as surplus to requirements.
As highlighted by Tanswell, he encapsulates an Emery player and could be a really strong addition to the midfield; his boundless running akin to that of John McGinn.
With doubts over his Chelsea future, Villa should be pushing hard to bring Gallagher to Villa Park.
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