Transfer: Chelsea blocks midfielder from leaving Pochettino’s side after rejecting £40m bid

Chelsea have blocked Conor Gallagher from leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s side after rejecting West Ham United’s £40 million bid for the midfielder.

It was reported on Monday that Chelsea put Gallagher up for sale, having deemed him surplus to requirements at the club.

West Ham made the first move, submitting a generous offer worth an initial £37 million plus £3 million in add-ons.

West Ham manager David Moyes has eyed Gallagher to help ease the blow of losing captain Declan Rice who departed for Arsenal this summer.

However, the Evening Standard reports that Chelsea turned down West Ham’s bid, perhaps as it does not match the £45 million Everton wanted to pay for the England star back in January.

Chelsea had accepted Everton’s proposal but the transfer never happened as Gallagher refused to move to Goodison Park.