Manchester United could land Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher for €40m in 2026
Manchester United have been looking to bring in a new midfielder for a while now. And there are expectations around the fans at Old Trafford that the decision-makers at M16 will bring in some reinforcements in the middle of the park when the winter window comes around.
The Premier League heavyweights have been monitoring Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher. And the upcoming winter transfer window could present a golden opportunity to land the Cobham academy graduate.
We have seen United linked with Gallagher while he was still at Chelsea. But at that time, Atletico Madrid forked out €40 million to sign him.
Gallagher could come back to English shores in winter?
But according to AS (as relayed by Sport Witness), Diego Simeone has not been convinced of the impact that the 25-year-old has had in the Spanish capital. And even with a few injury concerns in that Atletico roster, Gallagher has struggled to make himself a regular fixture in the middle of the park.
There were hopes that Gallagher would bring a sense of dynamism and energy in the middle of the park. But the aforementioned report insists that there are doubts surrounding him at Atletico which are “not fading” but, on the contrary, “increasing”.
And that is where Manchester United comes into the picture.
The Premier League heavyweights are in the market to bring in reinforcements in the middle of the park.
United have a need for reinforcements in the midfield
Casemiro has been entering the twilight of his career. And then Ugarte has not really got going at Old Trafford. So Ineos are looking to reshape the midfield. And Gallagher, given his established profile in the English game, fits the profile of someone who has that capacity to not only offer Premier League experience but also pressing intensity and box-to-box coverage.
Atletico Madrid have so far backed the midfielder in public. But the report states that behind the scenes the decision-makers at the Spanish giants are reportedly open to selling the former Chelsea man. And a €40 million price tag can expectedly get a deal done.
That fee is the same figure that Atletico paid to Chelsea for his services.
Gallagher himself might be willing to come back to England. Especially given that there is a World Cup on the horizon in 2026. Not getting minutes in Spain would very much put his chances of being picked by Gareth Southgate at risk.
And United, meanwhile, are having the pieces in their roster getting right. And given that Gallagher had a reduced role in Spain, a possible transfer in the winter window might be possible.
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