Simon Jordan says Conor Gallagher’s departure does not call for Chelsea panic stations as he tipped the Blues to fare well this season.
Gallagher has completed his medical at Atletico Madrid, talkSPORT understands, as he brings an end to his 16-year association with the west London club.
The 24-year-old – who wore the armband on numerous occasions for the Blues last season – will sign his five-year contract shortly to complete his £33million transfer.
His impending departure has not gone down well with the Chelsea fan base, who are gutted to see the back of a homegrown player who has Cobham running through his veins.
But talkSPORT’s White and Jordan co-host Simon Jordan isn’t so sure Blues supporters should be as outraged as they are, suggesting he is not the be-all and end-all of the club’s chances of success.
When Jim White stated he believed it was a big move for a player the age of Gallagher, the ex-Crystal Palace owner said: “If you’re being transferred from a London, or English leading Premier League club, irrespective of the certain travails Chelsea have had recently, and you’re being transferred to Real Madrid, or Barcelona, then absolutely.”
“Oh, come on,” White interjected. “Simon, it’s not [a] bad [move].”
“Of course it’s not bad,” Jordan responded. “And it’s not bad for Conor Gallagher. I think Conor Gallagher is seemingly getting a reputation of being some sort of world beater, and the reason why they might have some success which is nonsense.
“They got £40million for a mediocre player, not a bad player, an international player with some recognition.”
After coming through Chelsea’s academy, Gallagher went on loan to Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and then Crystal Palace.
He then broke into the first team and has made 95 appearances in total, scoring 10 goals and grabbing 10 assists.
But despite his role in the team over the last two seasons, Jordan thinks Chelsea will be fine without him.
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He continued: “I listened to Darragh [MacAnthony] making a very good point with Alex Crook about the outrage of selling Conor Gallagher.
“How many people were watching England saying ‘you know what, we must have Conor Gallagher on the pitch because if we don’t have him you’re not going to win anything!’
“So the reality of it is, Chelsea have done some business, he’s got a good deal. He’s done the same route as Kieran Trippier did, which is leave a football club, no one could conceive why Trippier was leaving Spurs at the time could they?
“And he went off to Atletico, reemerges in England with an even bigger potential to be an England player and went to Newcastle which was a much loved project which had no finances involved.”
Despite this, Jordan has hailed Gallagher for his impact he had on loan at Palace in the 2021/22 season.
“Oh I like his energy,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it, he’s an honest player. He’s one of those players you can put your hat on every single game and know every game you’re going to get a seven out of 10 from him.
“But he’s not an exceptional player. At Palace what he did was he gave the team enormous vibrancy. He worked from the first minute to the 90th minute.”
And whilst Gallagher moves on, Jordan expects Chelsea to surprise people this season under new boss Enzo Maresca
That’s despite recent underwhelming seasons and question marks over owners Todd Boehly and co’s running of the club.
“I expect Chelsea to right this ship,” he said. “Irrespective of how much their owners are spending, which is their own money they’re spending and maybe wasting.
“I still think Chelsea will be – I think they’ll surprise people this season, I really do.”
Chelsea get their season underway next Sunday against Manchester City.