Tottenham Hotspur are allegedly preparing to test Chelsea's resolve with a late bid for Conor Gallagher before the January transfer window slams shut.
The 23-year-old's future remains clouded in uncertainty as he winds down his contract at Stamford Bridge, which now only has a little under 18 months left to run.
Since Mauricio Pochettino took the reins in West London, the Argentine has consistently placed his faith in Gallagher, who has featured on 28 occasions for the Blues this term, setting up six goals in the process.
Due to Reece James's perennial injury problems, Gallagher has often donned the captain's armband for Chelsea in the 2023-24 season, leading the team out in each of their last five Premier League games, four of which have ended in victory.
However, with there being no change in Gallagher's contract situation, the Blues will be at risk of losing the England international on a free transfer in 2025 should they not agree fresh terms or part ways with him at some point in the coming months.
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Tottenham were believed to have emerged as the leading contenders to prise Gallagher away from his boyhood club, although a recent report claimed that the Lilywhites had given up hope of a January deal due to Chelsea's excessive financial demands.
However, Football Insider alleges that Spurs could still try their luck with an official bid before the February 1 deadline, having lost out to West Ham United in the race to sign Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City.
While Ange Postecoglou believes that both Phillips and Gallagher would be good fits for his system, Spurs baulked at City's £6m asking price to send the former out on loan, while they also refused to fork out the majority of his wages.
As a result, the North London giants may rekindle talks over a deal for Gallagher, but Chelsea are supposedly after a mammoth £80m to let him leave midway through the campaign, which Tottenham would likely turn their nose up at.
A summer transaction is considered far more likely, when Chelsea will have to relent on their demands if Gallagher does not commit his future to the club, but Tottenham are still understood to be keen on strengthening their engine room in the coming days.
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Postecoglou has already bolstered his defensive ranks with the permanent capture of Radu Dragusin from Genoa, while RB Leipzig's Timo Werner has arrived on loan to provide further competition in attack.
However, the departures of Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma for the Africa Cup of Nations have thinned Spurs' midfield, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - who made a pair of inexplicable mistakes nearly leading to goals in Friday's 1-0 FA Cup loss to Manchester City - is still on Juventus' radar.
Should negotiations over potential incomings fail to bear fruit, it has been suggested that the Lilywhites could consider recalling club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele from his loan spell at Galatasaray before Thursday's deadline.
The Frenchman has only made four Super Lig starts for the Turkish club, who are unlikely to take up their option to make his stay permanent, but he is also due to see his failed Tottenham stint come to an end in 2025.
After seeing another shot at a first trophy since 2008 go begging on Friday, Spurs resume Premier League duties at home to London rivals Brentford on January 31.
Ben Knapton
