In order to capture Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher during the winter transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur will need to make a “very, very big package,” according to transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano, who exclusively gives GIVEMESPORT with information from Hotspur Way.
Spurs’ head coach Ange Postecoglou may try to expand his alternatives in the middle of the pitch with the Premier League season of 2023–2024 having a mixed start.
In order to give themselves the best opportunity of qualifying for the 2024–25 Champions League, the Lilywhites have already looked to the winter market to bolster their roster. Gallagher, who battled to break into the team under several head coaches in the 2022–2023 campaign, has established himself as a Chelsea regular.
Gallagher has always been of interest to Tottenham
For a number of months, Tottenham has been observing Gallagher from a distance and made their first move for the midfield player at the close of the summer transfer window in 2023.
Sky Sports claims that although Spurs had an agreement in place for the 23-year-old to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year, they were unable to secure his signature due to Chelsea’s unwillingness to sell. Gallagher has been Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues team’s constant presence in the middle of the park; on multiple occasions, he has even been given the captain’s armband.
The Conor Gallagher of Chelsea
But the England international’s contract dispute has made things more difficult for him at Stamford Bridge. With only 18 months left on his current contract, Gallagher may need to be sold by Chelsea in the next few weeks in order to prevent losing out on any potential money during the next two transfer windows.
Despite Tottenham’s interest, Gallagher is expected to stay at Chelsea throughout the winter transfer window, according to The Mirror. Though they would be forced to entertain an offer of £50 million or more, Pochettino’s team is still open to hearing bids for the midfield player, who is valued at £60 million. Spurs are unlikely to match that amount, though, considering they spent £25.9 million to acquire Radu Dragusin, a center back for Genoa, and also added forward Timo Werner to their roster on loan from RB Leipzig.
Romano stated to GIVEMESPORT on January 10th, 2019 that while Tottenham is interested in Gallagher, he is not aware of any direct talks between Chelsea and the Lilywhites over the midfielder’s possible signing. Spurs may therefore need to wait to pursue Gallagher and may want to look into making a summer transfer instead.
Conor Gallagher’s FBref statistics in comparison to European midfielders
Statistics
As for 90
The percentile
carries progressive
2.20
81
Effective attacks
1.26
81
Touches (penalty area attack)
2.59
88
Attacks
2.66
83
Blocks
2.07
98
All figures sourced from FBref, current as of 11/01/24
Fabrizio Romano: Things are “very quiet” in the Gallagher scenario right now.
Romano has stated that Tottenham’s only chance to acquire Gallagher is to make an offer more than the current rumored €30 million (£26 million) and €40 million (£34 million). The Italian journalist did, however, disclose that we are not “at that level of negotiation” at this time. According to Romano, GIVEMESPORT
It’s a relatively tranquil scenario right now. Gallagher is one of Pochettino’s key players. Therefore, I believe that the only option for Tottenham to recruit him is to provide a large sum of money—not only €30 million or €40 million, as has been suggested by recent rumors. It must be an extremely large package. We are not in that stage of the negotiation right now. Everything is still silent. Though things are still quiet, the admiration is still present.
Spurs transfer updates, while the Gallagher drama continues
Naturally, as Spurs explore searching the market during the winter transfer window, rumors of Gallagher joining the team have persisted.
The Independent claims that the Lilywhites are still looking to sign a midfield player for the period between their FA Cup Fourth Round matchup with Manchester City on the weekend of January 27 and their Premier League matchup with Manchester United on January 14. The player who most closely resembles the description of a sprinting midfielder who can substitute for James Maddison when necessary is Gallagher. A deal will be challenging, though, as the player has become one of Pochettino’s most important Chelsea players.
In the meantime, after the Bundesliga powerhouses lost out on signing Dragusin to Spurs, Eric Dier, a defender for Tottenham, has signed a one-year loan with Bayern Munich until the end of the current campaign. Given that the 29-year-old is out of favor and provides solid insurance for both defensive midfield and center back, Thomas Tuchel was keen to sign him during the winter transfer window.
Postecoglou has frozen Dier out of the team, choosing instead to start the former England international in center defensive roles alongside Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Emerson Royal, and Ashley Phillips. The probable sale of the former Sporting CP player could put an end to his ten-year career in north London.
