Managing Chelsea: Jonathan David signs, Johan Bakayoko deal and Conor Gallagher decision made

The summer transfer window has been open for less than a month. Can you believe that?

It feels like, especially from a Chelsea perspective, that it has been going on for at least a couple of months. Once again, the Blues are dominating transfer-related headlines with five new signings already through the door at Stamford Bridge.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Estevao Willian, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have all arrived so far this summer – and there is no sign of business slowing down. As well as the arrivals, there have been plenty of outgoings from SW6 in the first few weeks of the window.

Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva have all left the club so far this window. There are a number of others, too, who could join them between now and the end of the summer. Here, football.london has taken a look at just what the club should be focusing on in the next couple of months.

Gallagher transfer decision made

Conor Gallagher is now into the final 12 months of his contract at Chelsea and speculation over the midfielder’s future refuse to go away. football.london understands the Blues are open to selling the England international this summer should they receive the right fee for his services.

READ MORE: Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and why Chelsea may be tempted to make surprising transfer decision

READ MORE: Enzo Maresca gets Chelsea transfer backing Mauricio Pochettino never had with new signing

However, nothing will happen with Gallagher until after England’s involvement in Euro 2024 finishes. Aston Villa have held talks with the midfielder’s entourage already this summer but nothing has been decided on his future just yet.

And that is the problem. Chelsea need to make a definitive decision – one way or the other – whether Gallagher stays at Stamford Bridge for the upcoming season or whether he embarks on a new chapter in his career.

Sign up to our latest Chelsea WhatsApp service and get all the latest breaking news and in-depth stories from football.london’s dedicated Chelsea writers direct to your phone by clicking this link.

David deal agreed

Chelsea could get a real bargain this summer in the striker department. Jonathan David, who is in the last year of his contract at French club Lille, is said to be available for around £20million this summer.

The Blues have held talks with the Canada international’s representatives already this summer, football.london understands. The 24-year-old has established himself as one of European football’s deadliest players in front of goal – and that is why it will not be straightforward to sign the striker, with several other clubs said to be interested.

However, Chelsea do not want to disrupt Nicolas Jackson’s progress and development at Stamford Bridge. Someone like David, while he has a reputation, will not necessarily demand to be the out-and-out striker every week for Chelsea and a profile like that could be better for Jackson in a rotation sense.

And make no bones about it, with the amount of games Chelsea are expected to play next season, rotation will be a necessity for Enzo Maresca.

Bakayoko joins to solve winger problem

Chelsea are still looking to sign a right winger before the transfer window is out. Michael Olise was the main target for a few weeks but the Blues ended up pulling out of a deal to sign the Frenchman because of his wage demands.

Olise is now Bayern Munich-bound after Chelsea pulled out of the transfer. However, the Blues are looking elsewhere, with the likes of Johan Bakayoko and Crysencio Summerville on the club’s radar.

Bakayoko seems to be the front-runner in that position at the moment. Chelsea have expressed an interest in the Belgium international, football.london understands, who plays his club football at PSV Eindhoven.

The 21-year-old is a hugely exciting prospect and there are murmurs that PSV would be open to selling this summer. Chelsea and PSV, crucially, have a positive relationship after agreeing a £30million for Noni Madueke to move from Holland to England in January 2023.