REPORT: Aston Villa has signed Chelsea attacker who is very fast and brave 

REPORT: Aston Villa has signed Chelsea attacker who is very fast and brave

Simon Jordan has backed Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher to join Unai Emery’s Aston Villa over Brighton and Hove Albion.

It was suggested to the former Crystal Palace owner that Conor Gallagher is wanted by Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton.

But he added that he would be ‘surprised’ if the Chelsea midfielder moved to the Amex Stadium, and instead, he expects a move to teams that are ‘bigger and bolder’ like Aston Villa, as he told talkSPORT (15/06/23 at 11:45 am)..

With new boss Mauricio Pochettino being able to field two or three first-team players, it’s pretty obvious that a clear-out is needed at Stamford Bridge this summer.

That’s why the future of someone like Gallagher, who is also an England international, is being questioned, with Liverpool also emerging as a surprise candidate to sign the player this summer.

Even though both Villa and Brighton are in Europe this term, Jordan explained why a move to the Midlands is better than going to the South Coast.

“There is one thing going out on loan to Crystal Palace,” said Jordan. “It’s another thing signing, you have been a moderate regular at Chelsea this season.

“Chelsea are now in a bit of a funk and they are expected to come back and be strong again next season. I would be surprised if he went to Brighton. I think he will be looking for a different kind of move. I understand the argument around Robert De Zerbi and the achievements of Brighton.

On where Gallagher would go: “It depends who is in the market for him. If the option is put to him, ‘Brighton or nowhere’, then you might find yourself at Brighton.

“But if there are a variety of different football clubs, like the Aston Villa’s of the world that might be in for him. Maybe it’s the Palace-Brighton thing.

On Brighton being in Europe, just like Villa: “I get it. But Brighton are having their moment. They are having a wonderful moment and they are a wonderfully run football club. But I think there will be a levelling off from the sides that have done remarkably well against the sides that traditionally are bigger, better and bolder football clubs.”

Gallagher needs to leave Chelsea
The 23-year-old can consider himself lucky that he gets picked for England because his minutes, nor his form, this season warrant it.

But when he was starting on a regular basis at Crystal Palace, he deservedly broke into the England set-up and proved his worth.

An all-action midfielder, with energy to burn, strong in a tackle and an eye for a goal, he needs to leave Chelsea in order to take his game to the next level because he won’t progress in the chaos of that club.

Revealed: Aston Villa hit by crushing £205m blow after confirmed news
Aston Villa recorded losses of £205million during Christian Purslow’s time as CEO at the club.

The Midlands club announced this week that Purslow will be stepping down as Villa CEO after five years in charge.

Purslow was appointed in 2018 following the takeover by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris and a Companies House filing confirmed that he has had his employment terminated on June 12.

During Purslow’s time in charge, he oversaw the club’s promotion to the Premier League and rise to European football this season.

But the club’s on-pitch success under Purslow has come at a steep financial cost, with Villa losing a cumulative £205million during his tenure.

As per the club’s official accounts, Villa made a loss of £68.9million in 2019 – Purslow’s first full year as CEO and the year in which the club achieved promotion to the top flight.

That figure stooped to a loss of £99.5million in 2020 as the club spent heavily on summer transfers in preparation of their Premier League return.

Villa’s finances improved marginally in 2021 but the club still recorded an overall loss of £36.9million, with the wage bill rising to £137.8million – a huge increase from the £108million bill from the year prior.

Villa recorded a profit for the first time under Purslow in 2022, with the club accounts showing a profit after tax of £300,000.

However, that figure was largely inflated by the £97.4million received from the sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City.

Regardless, Villa reinvested well over the summer and managed a seventh-placed finish in 2022/23.

Overall, Football Insider can reveal that Purslow recorded losses of £205million during his stay at Villa Park, but he also led the side from the Championship to European football in that time.

In other news, Aston Villa agree deal after breakthrough – two new signings close