Tottenham Hotspur are close to signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher after moving ahead of Aston Villa in the race for the England international.
According to a report by BBC Sport on Tuesday, Spurs are ready to complete a £35m deal for the 25-year-old after signalling their willingness to meet Atletico Madrid’s full valuation.
Aston Villa were earlier confident of securing Gallagher’s signature but fell behind after proposing a loan move with an option to buy, a structure Atletico were not willing to accept. The Spanish club have made it clear they prefer a straight sale this transfer window.
Tottenham’s readiness to proceed with a permanent transfer has placed them in a strong position, with talks now progressing. Although personal terms are yet to be fully agreed, discussions are ongoing and are not expected to pose any major obstacle.
Gallagher is said to be keen to have the move concluded quickly, ideally before Atletico Madrid’s Copa del Rey match against Deportivo on Tuesday night, as he looks to settle his future ahead of the new season.
The midfielder joined Atletico after leaving Chelsea and spent last season in Spain. A return to the Premier League is seen as an important step for Gallagher as he aims to revive his international career under England manager Thomas Tuchel.
So far, Gallagher has made just one appearance under Tuchel, playing 59 minutes in England’s 3–1 friendly loss to Senegal. He is hopeful that regular football in England will improve his chances of earning more call-ups ahead of this year’s World Cup.
Tottenham’s interest has also been driven by injury concerns in midfield, with Rodrigo Bentancur ruled out for at least three months. Spurs believe Gallagher’s energy and pressing style will suit manager Ange Postecoglou’s system as they seek more depth in the middle of the park.
