Atletico Madrid attempt Gallagher transfer U-turn despite medical being booked

Valencia sporting director Miguel Angel Corona claims Atletico Madrid attempted to pull out of their move for Conor Gallagher and sign one of his players instead.

Atleti have agreed a fee of £33.7m for England international Gallagher, with Chelsea ready to cash in on the midfielder. Samu Omorodion is set to move in the opposite direction for a similar sum, with a medical booked in ahead of Gallagher's switch to Spain.

The Madrid club had also been pursuing Javi Guerra, who plays for Valencia. They've already been busy this summer, signing Alexander Sorloth and Robin Le Normand, while a big-money deal for Julian Alvarez appears close.

Guerra, a Spain Under-21 international, enjoyed a breakout season with Valencia last term. It now appears he will remain at the Mestalla for at least one more year, with Corona indicating it appeared to be an either-or situation regarding Atleti's two midfield targets.

“I am going to try to tell facts, objectively," Corona told Relevo (via Football Espana). "There is an agreement on Sunday between [Valencia president] Lay Hoon Chan and the largest shareholder of Atletico Madrid [Miguel Angel Gil Marin], documentation is being filled out with the player. And on Wednesday morning, given the delay in the return of documents, there is a question towards Atletico Madrid, what is the situation and they tell us that they are trying to get out of Chelsea’s operation with Gallagher.”

“It was the first news that we and Javi Guerra had about it, that both operations were linked, and we got out of there. There had been constant exchange of calls, Whatsapps… And at no time had they notified us.

“Atletico and we agreed on that agreement on Sunday, on Monday in the face of certain journalistic information, we asked and they themselves told us to be calm that they were trying to get out of that operation, that their objective was only Javi Guerra. The Wednesday the largest shareholder apologises, show us understanding and tell us that he also wanted to get out of the deal, they apologise to us because they know what their actions have been.”

Chelsea have spent more than £100m on new signings, with Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino the latest to arrive and a deal for Genk goalkeeper Mike Penders reportedly gathering pace. Blues manager Enzo Maresca was asked about sales - with Gallagher set to follow fellow academy graduate Lewis Hall in leaving this summer - and blamed league rules.

“But this is not Chelsea’s problem,” Maresca said. “These are the rules. All the clubs at this moment are compelled to sell players from the academy because of the rules. It’s all of the Premier League clubs’ problems.”

“I also think the intention of the club is not to sell players from the academy, but it is the rules at the end that you have to do it. It’s not only us; it’s all the Premier League clubs.

"It’s a shame because in Italy we have Francesco Totti at Roma, 20 years with the same club. A one-club man — we love that in football; the fans want to see that. But with the rules now, it is different from the past."