Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he has held talks with Conor Gallagher amid uncertainty surrounding the midfielder’s future at the club.

Having started 19 of the team’s 20 Premier League games this season, the 23-year-old has been a constant in Pochettino’s lineup.

Gallagher’s status in the Chelsea squad has been reflected in the fact he has donned the captain’s armband on a number of occasions this term.

Despite being regarded as an important player by Pochettino, Gallagher’s Chelsea future continues to draw significant speculation with just 18 months left to run on his current contract.

A recent report claimed that Gallagher is likely to stay at Stamford Bridge this month, but the club’s hierarchy could be persuaded to sell if they receive a suitable offer.

Talking ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final clash with Middlesbrough, Pochettino confirmed that he has spoken to Conor Gallagher about his future.

“If you want to ask me if I was talking with Conor about this situation, yes,” Pochettino said to reporters. “It’s always good to have a good conversation with the player, like Ian Maatsen, or different players like this, Andrey Santos, when some rumours come out. This is true for all the players.”

‌”I think it’s always important for us, the coaches, to have very clear and very direct, honest conversations with the players. These kinds of relationships are healthy.”

As a product of the club’s academy, Gallagher would generate pure profit if he was sold, which could help Chelsea comply with profit and sustainability rules.

However, the Chelsea head coach has dismissed talk that the club will have to offload players before they can add to their squad this month.

“No, it is not like this,” Pochettino went on. “It is not how they [the club hierarchy] explain it to me.” It is not necessary to sell to buy some players.”

After dropping to the bench for Sunday’s FA Cup win over Preston North End, Gallagher is set to return to the starting lineup for Tuesday’s first leg against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Gallagher’s talents will be available to Pochettino, but the French attacker Christopher Nkunku will be absent because of a hip injury, which will cause him to miss a second straight game.