“Agent Trippier at it”- Newcastle United ready to hijack £40m deal that Kieran Trippier helped arrange and it could prove to be a big bargain
Chelsea appeared to be on the cusp of finalizing the sale of Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid, only for the deal to collapse in a surprising last-minute twist that has now opened the door for another Premier League club to make their move.
Reports indicate that Newcastle United are now actively looking to disrupt Atletico Madrid’s planned acquisition of Gallagher. The midfielder’s departure from Chelsea seemed imminent after a protracted transfer saga that saw both clubs negotiating intensely. The deal was structured in a way that would have seen Samu Omorodion, a promising young striker who has yet to make his first-team debut for Atletico, join Chelsea in exchange for Gallagher. The transfer fee was reportedly set at around £35 million.
However, the proposed transfer hit a major snag at the final hurdle. According to sources in Spain, the deal fell apart due to a contentious clause that Chelsea insisted on inserting into Omorodion’s contract. This clause would have allowed Chelsea to claim 50 percent of the player’s image rights, a demand that Atletico found unacceptable. The disagreement over this clause ultimately led Atletico to pull out of the deal entirely, leaving Gallagher’s future hanging in the balance.
In the wake of the failed transfer, Chelsea quickly redirected their attention to Joao Felix, a player they had previously loaned from Atletico Madrid. Felix remains a target for Chelsea as they seek to reinforce their squad, but the uncertainty surrounding Gallagher’s situation has added another layer of complexity to their transfer plans.
Conor Gallagher, meanwhile, has been caught in a state of limbo throughout this process. Reports suggest that the 24-year-old midfielder was left in Madrid, where he spent five days training alone in a hotel, waiting for the transfer to materialize. With the deal now off, Gallagher has returned to London, but his future at Chelsea is far from settled. The stalled £40 million move has left the player increasingly frustrated, and he is now seeking clarity on his next steps.
Adding to the intrigue, *Fichajes*, a Spanish football news outlet, has reported that Newcastle United are now positioning themselves to swoop in for Gallagher. The Magpies, who have been linked with the midfielder in the past, have yet to make a significant signing during this transfer window, and they see Gallagher as a potential game-changer for their squad.
Gallagher’s connection with Newcastle is further strengthened by his relationship with England teammate Kieran Trippier. During recent international duty, Gallagher is believed to have confided in Trippier about his potential move to Atletico Madrid. Trippier, who spent two-and-a-half successful years at Atletico, winning the La Liga title before transferring to Newcastle in 2022, could play a crucial role in persuading Gallagher to consider a move to Tyneside instead.
Newcastle’s management is reportedly growing increasingly confident in their ability to outmaneuver Atletico Madrid and secure Gallagher’s services before the transfer window closes. For Chelsea, offloading Gallagher has become a priority, particularly after their inability to reach a new contract agreement with the player. Gallagher’s current contract is set to expire next summer, which adds urgency to Chelsea’s efforts to finalize his departure.
As the clock ticks down on the transfer window, all eyes are now on whether Newcastle can capitalize on the breakdown of Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid. With Chelsea eager to conclude a deal, and Gallagher himself seeking a resolution to his uncertain future, the next few days could prove pivotal in determining the midfielder’s next destination. If Newcastle succeed in hijacking the transfer, it would represent a significant coup for the club, further signaling their ambitions under their current ownership.
