Atletico Madrid's English midfielder #04 Conor Gallagher (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Club Atletico de Madrid at Montilivi Stadium in Girona on December 21, 2025.placeholder image
Atletico Madrid's English midfielder #04 Conor Gallagher (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between Girona FC and Club Atletico de Madrid at Montilivi Stadium in Girona on December 21, 2025. | AFP via Getty Images
Man Utd are set to miss out on one of their midfield transfer targets as Tottenham Hotspur have won the race to sign him
Sky Sports have reported the player is flying to London on Tuesday and undergoing a medical in North London after a £34m deal was agreed with Atletico Madrid. The report claimed that “talks moved swiftly towards Spurs and an agreement was reached on Monday evening.”
It is a blow for United who fell behind in the race for the player after being persistently linked with him throughout the autumn months following serious interest during the summer.
“This will also depend on the formula of the deal. Manchester United were interested in Conor Gallagher as an opportunity in the final days of August but Atletico said no to a loan move and they don’t have that kind of intention.
“I think if maybe a permanent transfer proposal arrives, that would be different. Maybe something around 30 million euros (£26m), sources say that this could be the way to get Conor Gallagher in the January transfer window.”
With Gallagher set to join Spurs on a permanent deal, United will now need to shift their focus elsewhere as they look to bolster their midfield.
Elliott Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba continue to be linked but both players are set to cost in excess of £100m. They are deals the Red Devils might not be able to afford if they miss out on Champions League football.
Adam Wharton is also linked and is said to be available for around £60m if a Champions League club try to sign him.
Gallagher is only 25 and still has his best years ahead of him while also being highly experienced at such a young age. He is also used to the Premier League having played for Chelsea and Palace.
He played 95 times for Chelsea, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists. He arguably had the best spell of his career at Selhurst Park during a season-long loan with Palace. He scored eight goals and provided five assists for the Eagles.
Former Arsenal star Patrick Vieira was Gallagher’s manager at Palace and said of him during his time there: "Conor has this passion for the game when he is on the field like a Ray Parlour, but I would say he has maybe the quality finishing of a Frank Lampard.
"It is a manager's dream to have a player like Conor because when he is on the field, he will give everything. He is focused, concentrated and will always give his best. This is something that for me is really important."
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