Conor Gallagher is keen to join Manchester United if he is allowed to leave in January 2026
Manchester United find themselves in another transfer rumour as Conor Gallagher’s name returns to the conversation, and the situation becomes more complicated because the midfielder’s stint at Atletico Madrid has not gone the way many expected.
Gallagher left Chelsea for Spain in the summer of 2024, and although he arrived with energy and hope, his role has shrunk over the months since he has started only two league matches while spending most weekends stepping off the bench.
Meanwhile, the latest talk comes from Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, where Keith Wyness suggested that Old Trafford would appeal to the 25-year-old if he ever chose to return to England.
What did Wyness say?
However, the situation changes again because Wyness feels that Diego Simeone still values Gallagher, as Atletico fight through a tight title race. He explained that the club admires the midfielder’s work rate and intends to keep him through this season, since they want continuity in a group that sits fourth in La Liga.
Moreover, despite recent reports that suggest interest from Manchester United, Wyness argued that any January move does not look like the right moment, and he predicted that Atletico will hold him for at least another campaign, even though he believes Gallagher could fit well under Ruben Amorim.
“Conor’s been well received at Atletico. They like him over there, and they don’t want to let him go.
“I mean, there were a lot of rumours about him moving back in the summer, but he hasn’t gone. Again, rumours are now surfacing about him coming in January. I don’t really see it.
“Atletico are only fourth in the league at the moment. They want to push on. They see him as a very useful addition, and certainly Simeone likes him, so I don’t expect him to move.
“If he were to go, Man United certainly would be the one. He may suit Ameren’s style, but I wouldn’t expect him to move. I think Atletico will keep him at least for another season.”
Is he the best choice for the Red Devils?
United sit in a place where their midfield needs fresh ideas, and while Gallagher brings effort and intensity, the fit still seems wrong, because the squad needs a calmer organiser who can guide their play from deep and steady their rhythm across long stretches.
Moreover, the Englishman thrives as a box-to-box runner, but United often struggle with a lack of controlled passing in the first phase, which pushes them into hurried moves that rarely suit a team aiming to build with patience.
Meanwhile, alternative options such as Angelo Stiller look far closer to what the squad genuinely needs, since both offer precise distribution and reliable progression that would help United move up the pitch with more confidence.
Additionally, names like Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton remain on the shortlist, even though their fees remain heavy, while Elliott Anderson’s €100 million link only increases the noise surrounding the window. In our view, United should focus on securing a genuine deep-lying organiser instead of going for a move that fails to solve their biggest issue.