Tottenham director Johan Lange gave a club interview about what’s been happening behind-the-scenes at Spurs in the last month, with the Dane blown away by one emerging ‘leader’ in the dressing room.
January proved to be another month of disappointment and frustration for Spurs supporters watching their club stumble through yet another transfer window.
The injury ward at Hotspur Way has become absolutely packed with casualties as well.
11 first-team players are currently sidelined, leaving manager Thomas Frank scrambling to field competitive lineups week after week. Dominic Solanke’s ankle problem, picked up against Man City, only adds to the mounting casualty list.
Transfer business didn’t exactly inspire confidence either for most of the window.
Spurs reportedly pulled out of signing Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco despite spending months laying the groundwork, conducting scouting missions, and even explorinh personal terms with the French winger’s camp.
The potential £50 million-plus deal was postponed until the summer though, after Tottenham got cold feet amid a belief they could sign Akliouche for a cheaper fee later this year.
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The Spaniard was driving their interest.
Spurs also couldn’t sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool, despite agreeing a deal in principle worth £5 million, with both the left-back and his club refusing to give their final green-light.
Frank’s side ended January with Brazilian left-back Souza, Hearts youngster James Wilson on loan (an academy deal) and ex-Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher.
The latter is by a mile their most statement winter signing, with Gallagher already impressing in Lilywhite after choosing to join Spurs over Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Lange reckons this move could prove transformative, sharing what he’s already seen from the 25-year-old since his switch to N17.
Johan Lange says Conor Gallagher is a new ‘leader’ at Tottenham
Lange has now opened up about why Spurs pursued Gallagher so aggressively, revealing the club’s admiration stretches back several years rather than simply being a January opportunity.
The technical director pointed towards Gallagher’s exceptional track record across multiple competitions as evidence of his quality.
His Premier League pedigree, combined with La Liga experience in Madrid, has shaped him into a more complete footballer and person, according to Lange’s assessment.
What’s more, Lange predicts that Gallagher is about to become a new ‘leader’ at Tottenham, and an ‘important’ voice in the dressing room.
“Conor is a player that we have followed for a number of years,” Lange said.
“Obviously, he comes with a fantastic pedigree, his experience both with the Premier League, his period in La Liga have definitely also helped him to grow as a human being, as a player. Of course, he has played a number of times for England as well.
“So, he’s a player that, of course, can come in and help us on the first day — his energy, his quality in midfield, his work rate, the way he can drive a team forward is something that I’m sure will help us.
“We’ve already seen that from day one. Then, of course, as a character, he’s a fantastic human being. He’s a leader. He has been captain earlier in his career, and he’s somebody that really will be an important voice in the dressing room this season and in many seasons to come.”
The box-to-box star has started all three of his first league games for Spurs, assisting Solanke for his stunning back-heeled equaliser against City last time out.
Gallagher is also homegrown and does wonders to balance the sheet in terms of their quota, so he could genuinely prove to be a snip after Unai Emery also tried to spearhead Villa’s move for the player.
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It would be a real blow.