Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has responded to reports that his former side Tottenham want to sign Conor Gallagher this summer.
Spurs will be in the market for a new central midfielder if they sell Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - who has been linked to Manchester United - before Friday's 11pm transfer deadline and the club have stepped up their interest in Gallagher.
Chelsea are open to selling Gallagher having signed Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia this month but are demanding a £45m fee for the England international.
Pochettino, though, is a huge fan of Gallagher and even handed him the captain's armband for Wednesday's 2-1 Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
Quizzed about Gallagher's future, Pochettino said: 'All players in the squad are in our plans. After is a decision of two parts of the club and the player.
'Conor is a consistent player than can play in different positions. We are happy with him.
'Circumstances happen in the past, we can say nothing, we can only say our feeling from day one and he has shown great commitment to the club, he was captain two days ago, he is an important player but the future I don't know.
'If you are the best you are going to play, even if we spend big money on a player, that is football.
'All players in the squad know they are going to play if they deserve to play. That is the thing that is happening with the squad.
'Just because we spent big money on a player does not mean he is guaranteed to play. We are so happy with Conor, we hope he stays with us.'
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