Chelsea are demanding a fee of more than £50million to sell Conor Gallagher this summer, talkSPORT understands.
That is despite the 24-year-old only having a year left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
England midfielder Gallagher is attracting interest from clubs including Aston Villa and Tottenham.
The Blues are willing to cash in on the academy graduate to help raise funds for Profit and Sustainability reasons.
Spurs have maintained their interest in Gallagher having failed in their quest to prise him away from Chelsea during the winter transfer window.
However they baulked at Chelsea’s £50m valuation – which they have kept the same following an impressive 2023/24 season.
But as talkSPORT reported in April, the west London have still not yet offered their academy graduate fresh terms.
Meanwhile Villa have identified Gallagher as a credible target as they look to bolster their squad in preparation for the Champions League next term.
The Villans will be embarking in their first European campaign since 2010 – and their first in Europe’s premier competition in 41 years.
The ex-Crystal Palace loanee emerged as one of the most important players under Mauricio Pochettino.
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No other player made more appearances than Gallagher’s 50 in all competitions, where he chipped in with seven goals and nine assists.
Chelsea fans made their feelings clear regarding Gallagher’s future by unveiling a huge banner of him in the club’s recent third kit ahead of last month’s win over Spurs.
And club legend Joe Cole has stressed to the club’s owners that they cannot part ways with the Three Lions star, as he waxed lyrical over his abilities.
He told talkSPORT: “If I was sitting in front of the owners, I’d be telling them that Conor is arguably the most important player in that dressing room in terms of what he brings to the club, he understands the club.
“This is before you start talking about his performances on the pitch, because I think the last 56 games everyone played really well. Everyone was playing well.
“Players come off the bench affecting games but during the difficult times, that’s when you see what our players were really worth, where you know when things are not going well.
“And Conor was always there available, driving his team on going and being grave, getting on the ball.
“I think he’s vital for the club to keep him. I don’t understand the financial side of it.
“I know there’s a benefit to selling players from the academy, and you know, I’ll admit, hands up I don’t understand that side of it.
“But if you are from a purely footballing perspective, he’s in the top three most important players in that dressing room.”