Enzo Maresca’s priority will be to convince Chelsea’s hierarchy to keep Conor Gallagher’s facilities, according to Joe Cole.
Maresca, 44, will be Les Bleus’ new head coach after building himself as the ideal candidate to upgrade Mauricio Pochettino, who left his post by mutual agreement last month.
The Italian will take charge of Stamford Bridge after leading Leicester City to the league title last season and is said to have secured a five-year contract.
Maresca joins the club at a time when homegrown player Gallagher is expected to be sold in order for Les Bleus to meet benefits and sustainability standards.
But Cole insists that Maresca do everything possible to save the sale of the 24-year-old. He told talkSPORT: “If I was sitting in front of Chelsea’s owners, I would tell them that Conor is arguably the ultimate vital player in the dressing room.
“Even before talking about what he does on the pitch, he understands the club. In the tough moments, you see the value of a player and Conor was there and he was there and he kept the team going.
“I think it’s essential that the club helps retain him. I admit that I don’t understand the monetary aspect, but from a purely footballing point of view he is one of the three most important players in the dressing room.
Should Chelsea sell or keep Gallagher this summer?Let us know here.
Gallagher was a mainstay of the Chelsea squad last season and wore the captain’s armband under Pochettino, but that hasn’t deterred interest in the pliable midfielder.
Tottenham are long-time admirers of the £40m English star and Aston Villa have also been linked. The idea is that Pochettino was looking to keep Gallagher and some of the other local stars of the club, defender Trevoh Chalobah, before leaving his position.
Gallagher has just one year left to execute his contract and Pochettino has suggested to the club’s hierarchy to “fix” the scenario involving the popular midfielder amid interest from Premier League rivals.
The Argentine said last month: “I’m not worried, I don’t know anything, I can’t tell you. I think you can see it in my starting eleven, I think the whole season has been strong with him. He is of course, a vital player. But I’m not worried about the decision, it’s the club and Conor. I’m not worried, it’s a scenario that they have to resolve between the club and the player.
Join our new WhatsApp network and get your fix of Mirror Football content. We also offer our network members special offers, promotions, and advertising from us and our partners. If you don’t like our network, you can check it out at any time. . If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
The Three Lions are the favourites to win this summer’s Euro 2024 and you can get your hands on the new Nike home and away kits before the first whistle.
Follow Tuchel’s Blues. Get our FREE Chelsea newsletter delivered to your inbox