Aston Villa have joined the hunt to sign Conor Gallagher this month, according to reports from talkSPORT.
Unai Emery is keen to bolster his squad in a bid to sustain their surprise push for the Premier League title. Winning 13 of their 21 games so far, Villa are just six points behind league leaders Arsenal and firmly in the mix to beat them and Man City to the crown.
If they’re to do that, while also competing in the Europa League and FA Cup, they will need to add crucial quality and depth to their side with one Champions League player firmly on their radar for a potential deal this month.
Unai Emery Wants Conor Gallagher
It’s reported that Villa are interested in signing the midfielder on a loan deal with an obligation to buy him permanently at the end of the season.
Unai Emery is a huge admirer of Gallagher and has reportedly been keen to sign him since his Chelsea days.
It’s claimed that Gallagher is still happy with Atletico Madrid but would welcome a return to England in order to aid his chances of making Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Earning £200,000 a week, the 25-year-old is under contract with the Spanish giants until the summer of 2029. Man United have also been linked and were reported last week to be leading the race to sign him.
Gallagher Would Be Huge Addition For Aston Villa
If Aston Villa can pull off a deal for Conor Gallagher, it could prove to be one of the signings of the January transfer window. After racking up 20 goal involvement in 95 games for Chelsea, the midfielder moved to Atletico Madrid and became an instant favourite of Diego Simeone and the Atletico fans.
With real depth within the squad, Gallagher has had to get used to being a substitute more often than not having started just eight matches this season. Atletico would love to keep him, but the 25-year-old is much better than merely a squad player.
If Gallagher was to join Villa, his combination of supreme athleticism and real technical quality could make him a real favourite. Having played 23 times in the Champions League, the midfielder is exactly what Emery needs to take his team to the next level and with the attitude of a model professional, there’s no doubt that supporters would get firmly behind him too.
Gallagher is very capable of being a regular in the England squad. If he join Villa, he may well just squeeze into Tuchel’s plans for the World Cup.
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