It is increasingly likely that Thursday’s Supercopa de España semifinal served as Conor Gallagher’s final game for Atlético de Madrid.
Gallagher reportedly is closing in on a return to England, where he would play for Thomas Frank’s sputtering Tottenham Hotspur side.
Matteo Moretto reported earlier in the day that Aston Villa had taken the lead for Gallagher and were deep in negotiations with Atlético over a loan with an obligation to buy. But according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Spurs have lodged a €40 million offer for Gallagher — which is expected to be accepted.
And Gallagher, keen to return to the England national team, would welcome the move back to the Premier League.
Marca’s David Medina reported earlier Monday that Villa and Manchester United also wanted Gallagher, who has scored three goals and provided one assist in 27 appearances this season.
Atlético have been open to letting Gallagher leave this month, as he has failed to carve out a starting role since his arrival in the João Félix swap deal of 2024. While the midfielder’s €9 million salary can be onerous for a Spanish team, Spurs can easily pay it — and his arrival would have the additional benefit of aiding their “homegrown” quota, the rule by which eight players out of a 25-player squad must be trained in England.
Spurs sit a lowly 14th in the Premier League, but only six points separate the North London club from fifth place and likely Champions League qualification for next season. Their interest in Gallagher has been spurred (pun intended) by a hamstring injury to Rodrigo Bentancur, which is set to keep him out until April.
I had selling Gallagher (or loaning him out with the goal of selling him) marked as one of sporting director Mateu Alemany’s objectives for this month, his first in charge of Atleti’s incoming and outgoing transfers. Even in Atleti’s poorly-constructed midfield, Gallagher has made only nine starts in all competitions; he is a good player, but he’s not the type of midfielder that this team needs.
Gallagher is a box-crasher, an attacking midfielder who thrives when he’s able to win the ball high or run into the penalty area. Atleti already have about five of those guys. Gallagher has been exposed when playing in a double pivot, the role in which the board first envisioned him playing when he arrived two summers ago. He lacks technical skill and the dynamic passing range necessary to help Atleti control games; this was evident once again on Thursday, when Diego Simeone chose Gallagher to step in for the injured Pablo Barrios and swiftly removed him at halftime of the eventual 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.
Gallagher’s departure would be best for all parties. The player would get more minutes in his home country, and Atleti might create the margin to sign a replacement who gives the midfield a better balance.
