Conor Gallagher’s proposed move to Atletico Madrid is on the verge of collapse, and he is set to return to England tonight. The Chelsea midfielder has spent the last five days in Spain, where the finer details of a £33.7million transfer were being ironed out between his boyhood club and the LaLiga giants.

However, Atletico Madrid needs to offload one of their own players to complete the deal and sign Gallagher. This comes after a blockbuster summer that saw them lure Julian Alvarez away from Manchester City.

Gallagher has reportedly been told that he will only be a squad player under new manager Enzo Maresca’s setup at Stamford Bridge. As a result, Chelsea has instructed the player to return to England while talks continue.

Chelsea had been eyeing a move for Atletico’s young forward Samu Omorodion, with a reported bid of £34.5m. However, the 20-year-old has apparently called off the move at the 11th hour.

The west London hierarchy is still exploring options, but for now, Gallagher’s future remains uncertain. More to follow.