Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Chelsea have been linked with signing a midfielder who has already proven in his career to be a better player than Cobham graduate Conor Gallagher.
Many Blues supporters were outraged at the club when they let Gallagher leave the club in 2024, only for him to since move to arch-rivals Tottenham.
The England international is earning around £200k-per-week in North London, after a short stint at Atletico Madrid didn’t work out as he would have hoped.
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson
Gallagher found minutes very difficult to come by in Spain, with him being kept out of the side by fellow midfielder Pablo Barrios.
The Spaniard has reportedly emerged as a target for the Blues after a summer transfer window where they lost Enzo Fernandez and did not have suitable time to replace him.
There should be positivity amongst those who wanted Chelsea to keep Gallagher that they are being linked with a player who kept him out of action in Madrid during his tenure there.
Barrios’ price is being quoted at 100 million euros, which would see him become Chelsea’s main midfield investment, rather than someone with Premier League experience like Adam Wharton and Alex Scott.
Sevilla FC v Atletico de Madrid - LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Who is Pablo Barrios?
A 23-year-old midfielder, Barrios started more than half of the games for Atletico in La Liga last season.
He has made a reputation for himself for being able to win the ball back, and completing dribbles without being dispossessed.
In fact, no player in La Liga has won possession in the final third more than Barrios in the early stages of the 2026/27 season.
Ideally, the Blues would love to replace Fernandez’s goals with anyone they sign, although they would not be getting that with Barrios. He scored just one league goal last season.