‘Closing in on deal’: Ornstein drops unexpected transfer update over Man Utd target with medical now scheduled

Conor Gallagher is now expected to join Tottenham Hotspur in a £34.6 million move from Atletico Madrid.Originally, Atleti had green-lit a deal that would’ve seen the midfielder join Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season, after which they would’ve had the option of signing him permanently.Conor Gallagher to Spurs: How it played out(Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)That was until Spurs entered the race at the 11th hour in hopes of changing Gallagher’s mind following a lengthy injury layoff to Rodrigo Bentancur. In addition, they were willing to pay for the transfer upfront, as opposed to taking him on a temporary deal first.Both Atletico and Gallagher approved the terms, and David Ornstein has since verified that the 25-year-old will fly from Spain to England today to undergo his medical after reporting last night that the London outfit were ‘closing in on a deal’. 🚨 Conor Gallagher expected to fly to England on Tuesday to undergo medical + finalise details on long-term contract ahead of joining Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid. Agreement reached between #THFC & #Atleti over €40m permanent deal @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/lCHpTEw193 — David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 12, 2026Gallagher rules himself out of Old Trafford switch (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)While Manchester United didn’t officially get involved in the hectic race, they were confirmed to be admirers of Gallagher in the build-up to January.They had identified the Chelsea graduate as a suitable option to bolster the midfield ranks mid-campaign, having had a loan offer for Gallagher rejected in the final 48 hours of the summer window.However, he was keen on securing a prominent squad role if he were to leave the Wanda Metropolitano this month, as well as continuing to play in the Champions League, which neither United nor Villa could offer. Competition Appearances Starts Minutes played La Liga 19 4 665 Champions League 6 3 286 *Gallagher’s record in Atletico’s two main competitions thus far (Transfermarkt)The fact that United have also been knocked out of both cup competitions makes any winter deal considerably harder to negotiate, given the team will be playing their fewest number of matches since 1915.