Tottenham Hotspur are set to finalise a £35 million agreement to bring Conor Gallagher to North London from Atletico Madrid, moving ahead of Aston Villa in the pursuit of the England midfielder.
Villa had been leading discussions for the 25-year-old, but their proposal focused on a temporary switch that included the possibility of a later purchase rather than an immediate sale.
Spurs have now taken control of negotiations after indicating they are prepared to match Atletico’s asking price, giving them a decisive advantage in the race.
Although contract details between the player and Tottenham remain unsigned, the agreement is viewed as straightforward and unlikely to delay the transfer.
Gallagher is eager to complete the switch before Atletico faces Deportivo in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday evening.
Midfield needs to drive Spurs interest
Tottenham’s push to strengthen the centre of the pitch comes after a significant setback to Rodrigo Bentancur.
The Uruguay international has been sidelined for a minimum of three months and will require surgery to address a hamstring problem.
Bentancur suffered the injury during last week’s Premier League loss away at Bournemouth, prompting Spurs to act swiftly in the market.
Gallagher is seen as a key addition who can provide energy and depth during Bentancur’s absence.
The former Chelsea player has been on Atletico’s books but now appears close to returning to English football.
England’s ambitions behind potential return
A move back to the Premier League could also aid Gallagher’s international prospects ahead of the World Cup this summer.
Since Thomas Tuchel took charge of England, the midfielder has made just one appearance under the German coach.
That outing lasted 59 minutes and came in a 3-1 friendly loss to Senegal.
Regular football in England is expected to strengthen Gallagher’s chances of re-establishing himself in the national setup.
Finalising the transfer quickly remains a priority for all parties involved.
