Breaking news- After last night result, Tottenham have now acted quickly to consider last-minute hijack for £50k-p/w machine
Tottenham Hotspur remain keenly interested in Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and are holding onto the hope of intercepting Atletico Madrid’s pursuit of the midfielder, according to Peter O’Rourke from Football Insider. Gallagher, who made 50 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino last season, netted seven goals as Chelsea secured a top-six finish in the Premier League. Despite his significant contributions and a central role in Chelsea’s squad, the 24-year-old midfielder is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Gallagher’s impending departure has drawn interest from several clubs, with reports indicating that Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are close to finalizing a deal involving both Gallagher and João Félix. However, complications have arisen, as Atletico has hinted at potentially withdrawing from the agreement for the dynamic midfielder. This has caught the attention of Tottenham and Aston Villa, who are now closely monitoring the situation.
After successful loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, Gallagher finally broke into Chelsea’s first team during the 2022/23 season. Yet, it was in the most recent campaign that the Surrey-born player truly shone, solidifying his position in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros. Often playing as part of a midfield trio with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Gallagher became a key figure in Chelsea’s midfield last season. Now, despite his rise to prominence, months of speculation have fueled the belief that both Tottenham and Villa are determined to secure his signature, making his exit from Stamford Bridge seem inevitable.
Gallagher’s situation is further complicated by off-field factors. After being sidelined from Enzo Maresca’s pre-season squad, it appeared a deal was imminent that would send him to Atletico Madrid, with Samu Omorodion moving in the opposite direction. However, negotiations over Omorodion’s move to West London have hit a snag, potentially jeopardizing the entire transfer.
Football Insider reports that Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s head coach, is an avid admirer of Gallagher and remains hopeful that Spurs could orchestrate a last-minute coup for the England international. However, the same report indicates that Atletico Madrid still expects to secure Gallagher, with a revised deal involving João Félix now in the works.
Considering Gallagher’s £50k-a-week earnings and the fact that he has already undergone a medical in Madrid, it would take a significant turn of events for the deal to collapse. Nonetheless, Tottenham’s persistent interest in Gallagher positions them well to capitalize if the Atletico deal falls through.
Tottenham’s ongoing pursuit of Gallagher suggests that Postecoglou’s priority for the remainder of the transfer window is to bolster his midfield. With Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg having departed for Marseille and Oliver Skipp poised to join Leicester City, the North London club finds itself potentially short-staffed in the midfield department. Additionally, with new signing Archie Gray expected to cover right-back duties frequently, Postecoglou could find himself needing reinforcements in the middle of the park. As a result, Tottenham is also eyeing a move for Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli. The Italian, who was a regular feature for Juventus last season, may be considered surplus to requirements this campaign under new manager Thiago Motta, making him a viable target for Spurs.