Rio Ferdinand says several Chelsea players are in the same boat (Picture: YouTube)
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is ‘fighting for his future’ at Stamford Bridge, according to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Blues academy graduate Gallagher scored his third Premier League goal of the season on Saturday as Chelsea ended a six-game losing streak to beat Bournemouth 3-1.
Gallagher has played regularly under Chelsea caretaker boss Frank Lampard but it remains to be seen whether the 23-year-old features in the next manager’s plans.
Ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take over at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and Ferdinand says Gallagher is one of several Chelsea players who ‘still need to prove’ they should be at the club going forward.
‘It was a good goal to be fair to him, but he’s fighting to stay at the club I think,’ the ex-England defender said on his YouTube channel.
‘I think Conor Gallagher and a few others there are fighting for their futures under this new ownership.
‘A new manager is coming in so I think Gallagher still has a lot to do, like the others, to prove he should be there next season.
Conor Gallagher scored in Chelsea’s much-needed victory over Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
‘He’s a local lad and someone who’s come through the academy so I’m sure he will want to stay there. It will be interesting to see what happens to him this summer.’
Several Chelsea players are expected to be offloaded this summer as the Stamford Bridge hierarchy look to trim the bloated first-team squad and raise some funds following their spending spree over the past 12 months.
Chelsea remain just 11th in the Premier League despite Saturday’s victory and welcome Nottingham Forest to west London next weekend.
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‘He still has to prove he should stay.’