Thomas Tuchel requires support to unlock N'Golo Kante successor after Chelsea sale is completed

It was at a gastropub in Cobham that Thomas Tuchel ran into Conor Gallagher ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. The midfielder hadn't been given permission by the Blues to play for his loan club against them at Wembley, understandably so given the stakes. So there was only one thing Tuchel could do.

"I apologised," the Chelsea head coach said. "I know how competitive he is and I know his character, I like him a lot and it was a pleasure to have him here in pre-season. The rules were clear when we made the loan. I can totally understand his disappointment, but these were the rules when we made the loan and we don’t want to suffer from our rules.”

Without Gallagher's energy and drive in midfield, Chelsea eased beyond Palace. A 2-0 win was recorded and Tuchel's side will take on Liverpool in the FA Cup final later this month. Gallagher will have to watch on once more as several of the teammates he played alongside at youth level in the Blues' academy compete for silverware.

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Gallagher will likely get the opportunity to join them next season, however. Tuchel has privately and publicly stated that he would like to integrate the 22-year-old into his first-team squad this summer. “I believe Conor can be a part of our squad and can play a role with us," the German coach said last month.

"But I am not the only one to decide. We need to speak after the season with everybody, speak after the season about what Conor wants, we need to see what the situation is and what role we have for him that he can fight for.

"There needs to be something to fight, a role and perspective of where you are, where you can be,