Breaking News!!! Aston Villa accelerate Conor Gallagher pursuit after Newcastle pull out of …
Chelsea’s stance: open to sale, but price must be right
**Aston Villa accelerate Conor Gallagher pursuit after Newcastle pull out of race**
*Birmingham – July 14, 2025* — Aston Villa have made an aggressive push to sign Chelsea and England midfielder **Conor Gallagher**, after Premier League rivals **Newcastle United** reportedly dropped out of the race due to financial restrictions linked to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). The 25-year-old midfielder, widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s most industrious and tactically versatile players, now finds his options narrowing — and Aston Villa intend to capitalize fast.
According to sources close to Villa Park, the Midlands club have opened **direct negotiations with Chelsea** and are prepared to submit an official bid of **£42 million**, with additional performance-based add-ons. Villa manager **Unai Emery** is understood to be a long-time admirer of Gallagher and sees him as the **ideal box-to-box reinforcement** for the club’s ambitious plans for the 2025–26 season, especially with Champions League football on the horizon.
### Newcastle back out: PSR limits strike again
Newcastle United had long been considered front-runners for Gallagher’s signature, with manager Eddie Howe reportedly viewing the midfielder as a key target. However, recent reports suggest that the club’s spending has been **hamstrung by PSR thresholds**, and unless major player sales occur this summer, they are unable to make any further significant investments.
That financial pause has given Villa the opening they needed. The Birmingham club — financially bolstered by European qualification and recent player sales — are now leading the chase and believe they can **wrap up a deal within the next 10 days**.
> “Villa have moved with purpose and intent,” said Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth. “There’s a clear message being sent: they want Gallagher, and they believe they can offer him a central role in a Champions League side.”
### Chelsea’s stance: open to sale, but price must be righ
Chelsea are reportedly **open to selling Gallagher** this summer as part of a broader squad restructuring under manager Enzo Maresca. With multiple midfield options already in place — including Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and young star Romeo Lavia — Gallagher’s minutes in the new season could become limited.
Despite being a fan favourite and a Cobham academy graduate, Gallagher has just **one year left** on his current contract, and Chelsea risk losing him for free next summer unless they cash in now. The club is said to value him at around **£45 million**, although Villa’s initial offer could come close enough to prompt further talks.
Gallagher himself is said to be **open to a move**, but only to a club playing **Champions League football** and offering a regular starting spot. Aston Villa ticks both boxes.
### Tactical fit under Emery
Unai Emery sees Gallagher as the **perfect fit** for his high-intensity, press-oriented midfield setup. With Douglas Luiz sold to Juventus earlier this summer, and Youri Tielemans linked with a return to Belgium or Turkey, Gallagher could fill a key void as a **dynamic, forward-driving midfielder** with Premier League pedigree and leadership qualities.
Emery reportedly views Gallagher as the **engine of his new-look midfield**, potentially pairing him with Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey to form a young, athletic and technically sharp trio capable of challenging top Premier League sides.
> “Conor is a Premier League player through and through — tireless, smart, and fearless,” said former Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov. “He fits everything Emery wants from a central player.”
### What’s next?
Aston Villa are expected to **finalize personal terms** with Gallagher’s camp within the next few days. With Newcastle now out of the equation and Chelsea under pressure to sell before preseason ends, Villa are now firmly in pole position. Arsenal and Spurs were also briefly linked earlier in the window, but have since cooled their interest or prioritized other targets.
Should the move go through, Gallagher would become **Villa’s second major signing of the summer**, after the arrival of Portuguese winger Pedro Neto from Wolves. It would also mark a statement of intent as the club prepares to return to Europe’s elite competition after over four decade.
