We had a feeling this was coming.
After a couple of great years on loan, we were desperate to see Conor Gallagher get a chance in the Chelsea first team, and it seemed like this would be the season he got his chance – it still could be.
But the feeling of sitting on the bench for Chelsea’s first game of the season can’t have been great, and that’s only going to get worse when he’s amongst the subs for the game against Tottenham tomorrow too.
The clubs who want to buy him will only intensify their efforts now, and last night The Sun reported that Newcastle are now front of the queue, hoping to pay £40m for the box to box man.
Crystal Palace want him back, West Ham have been linked. There are a dozen teams who would love dearly to bring him in, even at a high price.
Chelsea are going to have to play this very carefully.