I suspect what Gallagher believes is that Maresca, not to mention Winstanley and Stewart, might not have jobs in the club next summer.
That's the thing that makes this situation so unique. From the perspective of the sporting directors and manager its easy to see the argument why the player doesn't fit their vision and therefore it would be best for all parties for him to leave on a transfer this summer. But Chelsea has run through five managers in two years and the sporting directors are on thin ice. They can talk all they want about how Maresca is going to implement this new brand of football that will be the foundation for the club's identity going forward, yadda yadda yadda. But its all talk. Everybody - including Gallagher and his agent - know that if results don't come these people are going to lose their jobs - that's how the business works.
For Gallagher I think there's a very good argument for just running down his contract and seeing what happens. Worst case is that he has a year where he doesn't play much, the people at Chelsea stay in charge, and then he gets his choice of clubs next summer, probably on much better contract terms than he is being offered by Atletico now. Best case for him is that all these people get fired and the owners bring in a new manager, and perhaps a new sporting director or Shields just takes that job, with a footballing vision that gives him a chance to play out his prime years at the club he loves and where he wants to be.
that's the dream, eh!
