Gallagher Can Be a ‘Big Asset’ for Chelsea, Says Coach Tuchel

Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
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Gallagher Can Be a ‘Big Asset’ for Chelsea, Says Coach Tuchel

Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)
Conor Gallagher of Chelsea tries to control the ball off of a corner kick against Club America during their preseason friendly match at Allegiant Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (AFP)

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said Conor Gallagher could prove to be a "big asset" for the club after the midfielder made his case for a spot in their first-team with a solid performance in a 2-1 pre-season win over Club America in Las Vegas.

Gallagher, who impressed in a loan spell at Crystal Palace last season, played 45 minutes on Saturday as Mason Mount sealed victory for Chelsea in the 83rd minute, after Timo Werner's opener was cancelled out by a Reece James own goal.

"Conor trains at a really high level, and you can clearly see it was the right decision to let him go on loan," Tuchel told reporters after the win. "He made a huge step in his development at Palace and became an England player.

"It was a very good start and a good match for him. Now it's important he gets used to our principles of the game, to understand when to move and when not to move, and his work rate is outstanding... He can be a big asset for us."

Chelsea will also take on Arsenal and Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC in the United States before finishing their pre-season preparations with a game against Serie A's Udinese in Italy.



Lille Striker Jonathan David Considering New Contract Offer

FILE - Lille's Jonathan David celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Lille and Juventus at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, outside Lille, France, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
FILE - Lille's Jonathan David celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Lille and Juventus at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, outside Lille, France, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
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Lille Striker Jonathan David Considering New Contract Offer

FILE - Lille's Jonathan David celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Lille and Juventus at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, outside Lille, France, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
FILE - Lille's Jonathan David celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Lille and Juventus at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, outside Lille, France, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Jonathan David is considering a new contract from Lille and says his chances of staying at the French club are “50-50.”
The 24-year-old Canada striker is enjoying his fifth season at Lille and tops the league's scoring charts with 11 goals from 15 games. He is out of contract at the end of June and has reportedly been offered a two-year contract.
“As the president (Olivier Létang) said several times, discussions are going on. We're talking but no decision has been reached,” David told regional newspaper La Voix du Nord on Monday in an interview. “The door is never closed. It's 50-50.”
David has netted 17 goals overall this season — including four in the Champions League and two in the qualifying rounds — to take his tally to 101 since joining in 2020.
He is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe and Lille risks losing him for nothing if he does not sign a new deal. However, Létang previously made it clear he would not sell David during the January transfer window.
Lille is in fourth place in the league and hosts struggling Nantes on Saturday when Ligue 1 resumes following a winter break.