Tottenham have reignited their pursuit of Conor Gallagher, though they face competition from other Premier League sides for the former Chelsea midfielder this January.
Spurs are eager to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes, but uncertainty remains over whether Thomas Frank will be the man to oversee any new arrivals. Frank’s future in north London is in doubt following Tottenham’s FA Cup third-round defeat to Aston Villa — a club that is also keen on signing Gallagher.
Aston Villa have already opened talks with Atletico Madrid over a permanent move for the 25-year-old, and football.london reports that Tottenham have now intensified their interest. Spurs have admired Gallagher for some time and previously explored a move before he left Chelsea for Spain in 2024.
Atletico Madrid are only prepared to consider a permanent sale and are unwilling to sanction a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy. Villa’s proposal to bring Gallagher back to the Premier League has been on the table for around a week, while Tottenham are believed to have held informal discussions over the weekend. Several European clubs are also monitoring the situation but are hesitant to commit to a permanent transfer this month, preferring a loan arrangement instead.
Gallagher, who has earned 22 England caps, may welcome a return to the Premier League after struggling to secure a regular starting role under Diego Simeone. He has made 27 appearances across all competitions this season, scoring twice and providing one assist, but has yet to fully earn Simeone’s trust and has often been deployed out of position.
With the World Cup approaching this summer, Gallagher is understood to be keen to impress England boss Thomas Tuchel in his bid to secure a place in the Three Lions squad. The midfielder previously enjoyed an impressive spell in the Premier League, notably during a standout loan stint at Crystal Palace in the 2021/22 season.
After returning to Chelsea, he became a key first-team figure and even captained the Blues before being sold to Atletico Madrid in a £33 million deal. However, his time in Spain could now be nearing an end, with Tottenham and Aston Villa battling for his signature.
As previously reported by football.london, Spurs are desperate to make several additions this month to win back the support of supporters. The club’s hierarchy are targeting a left-back, left winger, central midfielder and a centre-back if one departs. Tottenham are moving quickly and are set to complete the £13 million signing of highly rated Santos left-back Souza, who is expected to undergo a medical shortly.
Meanwhile, Spurs have turned down a loan approach from Roma for defender Radu Dragusin.
