Danny Murphy gives advice to Chelsea star Conor Gallagher over Aston Villa transfer

Danny Murphy ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Conor Gallagher left Chelsea to join Aston Villa this summer.

Villa have expressed interest in signing the England midfielder, who is set to enter the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Gallagher is open to staying at his boyhood club but the decision may be taken out of his hands as Chelsea look to meet profit and sustainability rules while backing new manager Enzo Maresca with summer signings.

Chelsea want around £50m for Gallagher and ex-England midfielder Murphy believes that would represent ‘good value’ for Aston Villa, who can offer the midfielder Champions League football.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised [if he wanted to leave],’ Murphy told talkSPORT. ‘I think he would be a brilliant signing for Aston Villa and it would be good value.

‘I’ve been a little critical of his end product, that isn’t his strength although he can get in the box and score a goal. He was dropping in a bit deeper last season and he was absolutely terrific.

‘When you look at some of the amounts being paid for players, £50m for Conor Gallagher… superb athlete, always fit, you know what you get, can play different positions.

‘It’s an upgrade on what Villa have got and he would be playing Champions League football and I think the fans would love him, not that the Chelsea fans don’t, but I think for Villa it would be really good value and a statement.

‘I think it’s a perfect player for Aston Villa.’

Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham are also interested in signing Gallagher, who started all but one of the Blues’ Premier League games last season.

Gallagher has not spoken directly about his future at Stamford Bridge but hinted he plans to stay put as he hailed incoming manager Maresca.

‘It’s really exciting,’ he told Sky Sports after impressing in England’s Euro 2024 warm-up win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. ‘I’ve heard really good things and I’ve seen really good things.

‘Myself and everyone at Chelsea are really happy and excited to work with him. We want to get Chelsea back to where they belong. So hopefully with the new manager we can start to progress and get to where we belong.’

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