Former Chelsea star Conor Gallagher is hopeful of making a Premier League comeback this summer with the FIFA World Cup drawing near. The English midfielder wants to ensure that he is visible to national team manager Thomas Tuchel, and leaving Atletico Madrid is likely to increase his chances. The 25-year-old is facing heavy competition for a starting spot under Diego Simeone and believes the best option before him is to make a return to his home turf.
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are said to be the two Premier League teams interested in securing Gallagher on a loan deal in January. However, the deal will depend on how much of his salary will be covered by Atletico, European media reports said. Without a "buy" clause, neither Spurs nor the Red Devils will be interested in going forward with a loan deal, they added, claiming that Newcastle United and Inter Milan are also tracking the situation.
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It is said that Gallagher's salary in the Spanish capital is around £200,000-a-week, and whether that figure is subsidised could make a difference to whether he lands back in the Premier League, TeamTalk said in a report. The report added that Atletico’s asking price for a permanent transfer for the Englishman would be in the region of €30 million (£26.2 million). Thus, the interested clubs are likely to press for a loan deal instead to see how well he performs.
Ahead of the Christmas break, Gallagher spoke to his manager about his concerns regarding a lack of playing time ahead of the World Cup. Simeone wants to keep him but could not assure him time on the pitch during this conversation. According to TeamTalk, this resulted in the former Chelsea youth prospect revisiting his earlier stance to stay and fight for a place in the squad.
Manchester United are reportedly planning to recruit at least two midfielders before the next campaign starts. Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, and Carlos Baleba are rumoured to be the frontrunners as Ruben Amorim's project remains under construction. Gallagher left Chelsea for La Liga in August 2024, and his familiarity with the English top-tier makes him a worthy candidate to join the list. The central midfielder managed 10 goals and 10 assists for the Blues before recording seven goals and seven assists for the "Red and Whites" in 75 outings.