Manchester United rejected the chance to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher for two key reasons, according to a report.
Midfield not a priority
The Sun reports sources at Old Trafford indicate the midfield was “not a priority” in the summer transfer window as there were “enough versatile options” already in Ruben Amorim’s squad.
A comprehensive overhaul of the misfiring forward line – United scored only 44 times in the Premier League last season – was instead prioritised.
Over £200 million was spent securing a new attacking trident of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. But after five league matches this season, only Mbeumo is off the mark with one goal, though United’s improved threat going forward has been evident.
The midfield unit has struggled at times, however, with Amorim’s preferred partnership of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes lacking the requisite physicality to execute their coach’s instructions.
Neither of the other options in the squad – Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte – solve this weakness either, calling into question why United considered an upgrade in the middle of the pitch so low down the list of priorities in the summer.
The club’s first-choice target for the position was Brighton starlet Carlos Baleba. But the Seagulls had no intention of selling their prized asset and a deal never progressed beyond exploratory talks.
And, according to The Sun, United turned down the opportunity to sign Gallagher in the final hours of the summer window due to other priorities taking precedence.
A Missed Opportunity on Deadline Day
The report reveals the Red Devils “rejected” a move for Gallagher after Atletico made it clear the 25-year-old midfielder was available on deadline day.
Instead, United “prioritised” a move for Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, with a deal worth an initial £18.2 million eventually struck for the 23-year-old Belgian.
Yet, nearly a month later, Lammens is still waiting to make his debut, despite Andre Onana leaving the club on loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor and Altay Bayindir continuing to cut a shaky figure between the sticks in the Cameroonian’s place.
United are even reported to be exploring signing another goalkeeper as Amorim is pushing for a “more experienced” number one, calling into question the logic to prioritise Lammens over a target like Gallagher, a Premier League-proven midfielder with the requisite physicality to thrive in a 3-4-2-1 system.
However, Atletico were believed to be asking for £52m for the England international – a price far beyond the one agreed for Lammens. Furthermore, if INEOS consider Baleba their ideal target in midfield, there is logic in avoiding spending huge sums on inferior alternatives.
It constitutes a gamble nonetheless to have approached the summer with a new midfielder considered less important than three new forwards and a goalkeeper – and it’s one which will likely decide Amorim’s future over the coming months.
Feature image George Wood via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
