From Spain: Man United ‘leading the charge’ to sign £34m La Liga midfielder

Manchester United are strongly considering a move for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher in the January window.Numerous reports have seen the Red Devils linked with Gallagher, and Spanish outlet Diario AS now claims United are actually ‘leading the charge’.It’s previously been suggested by Sky Sports that almost every club in the Premier League would be open to taking the 25-year-old on board this winter, barring the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and his former club, Chelsea.Gallagher needs a mid-season move to keep World Cup dreams alive(Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Alas, Gallagher could well have his pick of the bunch in two months’ time, but will have to opt for the suitor who’s promising him the most game time in a relatively well-performing system.The Cobham graduate recently detailed talks that he’d held with England boss Thomas Tuchel, in which the head coach made it clear Gallagher would have to be playing a much more prominent role in the second half of the season if he is to have any shot at making the World Cup squad next summer.Given he’s started only twice in the opening 13 La Liga matches, it’s unlikely that’s going to change anytime soon unless Diego Simeone is hit with any major injury layoffs.Gallagher boasts plenty of PL experience(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)Gallagher racked up 136 Premier League appearances during his time in England, with the most coming for Chelsea in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 campaigns. Season Club Appearances Goals Assists 23/24 Chelsea 37 5 7 22/23 Chelsea 35 3 1 21/22 Crystal Palace 34 8 3 20/21 West Brom 30 2 2 *Gallagher’s complete league record, as per TransfermarktHe was then sold to Atleti in August 2024 for a fee of £34 million, ending an 18-year association with the Blues.United’s lack of European football this term may, however, prove costly in their attempts to sign him, as well as if their league form continues to fluctuate from now until the turn of the year.