Chelsea will look to target Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley as a replacement for Conor Gallagher, according to the Daily Mail.

With Gallagher expected to finalise his move to Atletico Madrid over the coming days, the Blues have identified O’Riley as an option to strengthen numbers in midfield. Fans on X don’t believe that Gallagher needs to be replaced, and some also feel that O’Riley would be an underwhelming signing:

We don't need him

— Davie (@CFCDavie_) August 4, 2024

Not happening
We already have a Gallagher replacement

— Ekùn! (@mayor_ekun) August 4, 2024

We don’t need more midfielders

— 20 (@PalmeerEra) August 4, 2024

who on earth is this guy?

— 𝐌!𝐥𝐥!😤🎭 (@F_Kiddo_23) August 4, 2024

we don’t need another midfielder ffs

— 🍂 (@tahyooo) August 4, 2024

Another pointless signing lol

— Jack (@JRT0809) August 4, 2024

We are Brentford FC

— Michał Łakomy (@michal_lakomy) August 4, 2024

Madness

— Anu.O (@O_Aanuu) August 4, 2024

O’Riley won’t be sold on the cheap

Atalanta have already tried to sign the Denmark international this summer but their bids fell short of Celtic’s asking price. Speaking about the player’s situation, Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers said:

“I think it’s really important from my perspective, if a player does leave here, that they pay the value for the player. And that’s not something sometimes can happen, sometimes a value can come in a lot less but I’ve worked in the Premier League, levels and players there and what values are, so no player will leave here unless it’s for the right valuation and at this moment in time there’s been no team anywhere near that.”

It is believed that Celtic are looking for more than £25m, which is their current record transfer fee received when Arsenal paid that figure for Kieran Tierney in 2019.

What is the latest on Gallagher’s departure from Chelsea?

It was confirmed on Sunday night/early Monday morning that the England international had accepted an offer from Atletico Madrid,

The Spanish side are set to pay €40m (£34m) for Gallagher, with the 24-year-old due to undergo a medical before the deal is officially sealed.