Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing a serious attempt to hijack Aston Villa's proposed transfer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, as manager Thomas Frank seeks urgent reinforcements for his struggling squad.
Spurs' Season in Crisis Drives January Search
Spurs' Premier League campaign has once again faltered, leaving the club languishing in the bottom half of the table. While European qualification remains a mathematical possibility, the immediate focus is on arresting a worrying slide. The situation was compounded by an FA Cup exit over the weekend, leaving the Champions League as the only remaining avenue for silverware—a prospect that appears increasingly unrealistic.
The team's struggles have been severely exacerbated by an extensive injury list. Key playmaker James Maddison remains out long-term, while Dejan Kulusevski is still weeks away from a return. The sale of Brennan Johnson, coupled with injuries to Mohammed Kudus (ruled out until April), Richarlison (hamstring), and a potentially significant hamstring issue for Rodrigo Bentancur, has created a critical shortage of options.
Manager Thomas Frank acknowledged the ongoing work behind the scenes, stating after a recent defeat: "In terms of transfer market, as I said many times, we are out there working very hard, trying to improve the squad."
Gallagher Emerges as Prime Target Amidst Competition
Conor Gallagher, a player Tottenham have tracked since his Chelsea days, has re-emerged as a concrete target. The England international moved to Atletico Madrid for a fee of just shy of £40 million and is under contract until 2029. However, his role in Spain has been limited this season; despite 19 La Liga appearances, only four have been starts, following the summer arrival of creative midfielder Alex Baena from Villarreal.
This lack of consistent starting opportunities, with the World Cup on the horizon, could make a return to the Premier League appealing for Gallagher. According to reports, Aston Villa submitted a formal proposal for the player last week. Tottenham are now said to be ramping up their interest to rival that move.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone has previously praised the midfielder's attributes, highlighting his speed and defensive work rate. "He gives us a lot of options offensively, he has the speed to finish things off and he's also fast enough for everything defensively," Simeone said in April.
Transfer Stalemate and Financial Hurdles
Any deal this month faces significant hurdles. Diego Simeone is reportedly only willing to sanction a permanent sale, with loan deals off the table. This stance, coupled with Gallagher's long contract, means a fee close to the £40 million Atletico paid is likely required to secure his signature.
For Tottenham, the financial outlay in a notoriously difficult January market represents a major commitment. However, the club's desperate need for midfield dynamism and Premier League-proven quality could force their hand. The coming days will reveal whether Spurs can successfully hijack Villa's move and secure a player they have coveted for years to help salvage their season.
