Conor Gallagher directly asked by reporter if his Atletico transfer has collapsed and his response is telling

Conor Gallagher was directly asked by a reporter in Spain if his transfer to Atletico Madrid has collapsed.

Gallagher's proposed move to Atletico has been thrown into doubt after Chelsea were unable to strike terms with Samu Omorodion.

The Premier League side had agreed a fee of £34.5 million for Omorodion, enabling Gallagher to go in the opposite direction.

But contractual issues have prevented a deal for the 20-year-old forward to cross the line, with Chelsea and Atletico now in talks over Joao Felix, who spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's pursuit of Felix is an attempt to try and save the Gallagher deal, with the England international completing his medical last week.

Amid uncertainty over the player's switch to the La Liga side, he was asked whether his move has indeed collapsed as a result of the Omorodion situation.

But the 24-year-old refused to answer as he remained tight-lipped over his proposed transfer to Atletico.

The reporter continued to question the transfer as Gallagher entered a hotel.

The midfielder has been on the books at Chelsea since 2008, having graduated from the club's youth academy.

Last season, he made 50 appearances across all competitions and wore the captain's armband on several occasions.

A move to Aston Villa and Tottenham had also been mooted before Atletico stole a march on the Premier League duo.

But while the Blues and 'Atleti' engage in talks to salvage the deal, the Spanish side have completed the signing of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.

They will pay an initial £64.4 million, with a further £17.1 million in potential add-ons for the 24-year-old forward.

His departure is a record sale for Man City, eclipsing the £50 million they received from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in the summer of 2022.