Tottenham Hotspur are close to signing Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. Spurs are eyeing a move for the former Chelsea star despite strong competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa. The north London club’s search for midfield reinforcements has taken on added urgency following news that Rodrigo Bentancur will be sidelined for three months due to hamstring surgery. Spurs and Atletico are now thought to have agreed a deal worth around 40 million euros (approximately 3.45 billion yen), leaving Villa, who had hoped to sign Gallagher on loan with an option to buy, in a desperate situation.
Gallagher is expected to arrive in London early this week to complete his medical and complete his transfer. He is set to sign a long-term contract and his personal terms are not expected to pose a problem. Atlético had intended to release the 25-year-old permanently this month rather than agree a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy in the summer. Tottenham’s willingness to commit to a full takeover helped them beat Villa in the race for the midfield maestro.
Other clubs had expressed interest, but either were reluctant to sign him permanently this month or preferred a loan deal with an eye on future signings.
Spurs seemingly scored a victory in acquiring Gallagher’s services, but it will be a major setback for Villa as manager Unai Emery is struggling with a midfield shortage due to injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley.
It’s a major coup for the north London outfit as they look to bounce back from a disastrous winter that saw them languish in 14th place with just two wins in 12 Premier League games.
Spurs appear to have learned lessons from past mistakes, including last summer’s chaotic Eberechi Eze saga, when the midfielder made a last-minute move to bitter north London rivals Arsenal.
But this time, Spurs appear to have the upper hand against one of their Premier League opponents, and this should be a win-win move.
Gallagher has found it difficult to break into the first team regularly under manager Diego Simeone this season, starting just four games in La Liga and is currently on the brink of a return to the Premier League.
He will hope a fresh start will impress manager Thomas Tuchel and increase his chances of securing a place in England’s World Cup squad this summer.
Prior to his move to Atlético, Gallagher enjoyed huge success in England’s top flight, making a name for himself during his loan spell at Crystal Palace for the 2021-22 season. He returned to Stamford Bridge and played a key role in the first team, even donning the captain’s armband before being pushed towards his departure in a £33m deal.
He has made 136 Premier League appearances, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists, including a spell on loan at West Brom before a brilliant season at Palace.
At 25, he still has a lot to contribute and will bring a wealth of experience to a team in need of improvement.
Frank’s tenure at the club has been difficult since arriving from Brentford in the summer, with the head coach’s workload increasing further after defeat to Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.
With just five wins in the past 20 games and seven losses in 13 official matches, Frank is hoping for new additions to change the tide.
Spurs are also close to securing a new contract for Brazilian left-back Souza, who is close to being snapped up in a £13m transfer from Santos.
