Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino pushing for the club to sign 'fantastic' midfielder amid Tottenham interest

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is pushing behind the scenes to ensure the club offers midfielder Conor Gallagher a new deal, LondonWorld has been told. England midfielder Gallagher has been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge despite impressing massively under the guidance of Pochettino. 

The 23-year-old's contract runs out at the end of next season and Tottenham and West Ham have shown interest as Chelsea look to balance the books after spending a combined £200million on both Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Gallagher's fight, strength and ability to cover ground has been pivotal under Pochettino who has been tasked with restoring Chelsea to a top-four side after they finished 12th in the league last season, their worst position in almost three decades. 

The Argentinian manager has named Gallagher in his leadership group including, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill and has picked him in every league game bar one when he was suspended.

“I am talking before, this situation is between the club and the player, it’s difficult for any coach to talk, it’s a decision by the club and the player,” said Pochettino when asked about Gallagher’s future last month.

“I’m coaching the team, trying to make the best choice as possible to perform. At the moment, so far, he’s doing well, fantastic for the team. He’s playing because he deserves it.

“About the future, it’s about the club and player and what they decide to do. In my previous experience at other clubs, I try to give my best opinion and advice to the club.

“I’m a manager who likes to work with the sporting director and the owners. It’s about talking and analysing things, then making the best decision for the club. It’s always, I repeat, from experience in the past, it’s about the club and the player and what they decide to do.”

LondonWorld sources say Pochettino's long-term plan is to build an English core at Chelsea using the likes of Gallagher and James as the foundation and hopefully, the axis on which his project will revolve. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his long-term future, Gallagher has four assists so far this season, no Chelsea player has more.