England manager Gareth Southgate has revealed that he has no issue with his players discussing personal transfer matters during the European Championship, a decision that clears the way for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher to negotiate a move while the tournament is ongoing.
With Chelsea keen to conclude Gallagher’s transfer before June 30 to increase their chances of complying with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), the Blues’ urgency is heightened due to the player’s contract having only one year remaining. As a result, Gallagher has become a hot property in this summer’s transfer market.
Joining Gallagher, Brentford’s Ivan Toney, whose contractual situation is similar, is also expected to seek a new club during the summer transfer window. Additionally, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze could attract interest from multiple clubs.
Southgate acknowledged that some transfer processes might need to “gather pace” during the Euros and explicitly stated his support for players engaging in transfer discussions.
Southgate explained, “In reality, I’ve never stopped players from being involved in transfer talks. Even if deals don’t get done immediately, those negotiations often continue throughout the summer. I’ve assured the players that if they want to speak about it, they can always come to me.”
“I always tell them not to let transfer issues distract them. Everything will take its course,” he added.
“We’re in an environment where deals can happen quickly, and the future is uncertain, but we’ll manage all these situations appropriately.”
