Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has stated that Conor Gallagher is the type of player that the Blues “need” in the midst of renewed rumors about his future.

The England international built a reputation for himself at the latter two clubs before being promoted to Chelsea’s senior levels in 2022, where he had a breakout season under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard.

Gallagher’s future remained a hotly debated topic over the summer, with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Newcastle United among the clubs thought to be keeping a close eye on his position.

Gallagher faced the threat of being forced out of the club with the arrivals of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Romeo Lavia in 2023, but he has risen to the challenge to become a key element of Pochettino’s system.

This season, the 23-year-old has started 16 Premier League games for his boyhood club, registering four assists, and he has frequently donned the captain’s armband in lieu of the injured Reece James.

Gallagher, on the other hand, is about to enter the final 18 months of his Chelsea deal in January, and it has been suggested that the Blues could listen to offers for the midfielder during the winter transfer window.

When asked about Gallagher’s standing at the club during a recent news conference, Pochettino said: “That is between the club and the player,” as quoted by the Evening Standard.

“I don’t need to talk too much because it is not my decision. He is in the starting eleven in nearly all the games and is one of the captains. For me, he is the type of player that the club needs to have.

“He’s important because of his Chelsea values. He came from the academy and knows the identity of the club and he is very committed.

“You can see on the pitch how he runs, plays, and fights. He gives everything and he is a really important player. All coaching staff want this type of player in their team.”

Gallagher joined Chelsea’s youth in 2008 and has since gone on to play 64 times for the Blues in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing five assists.

However, the 23-year-old is not said to have started contract talks, leaving Chelsea with a difficult decision to make in 2024 if he does not sign on the dotted line.

Gallagher was once again Chelsea’s stand-in captain in Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Sheffield United, which moved the Blues up to 10th position in the table.

Pochettino’s team will now prepare to visit Newcastle United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday before traveling to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a top-flight match on Christmas Eve.