da imperador bet： Manchester United are now plotting a January offer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has emerged as one of their main targets, alongside five other potential options.
da heads bet： The need to bring a new midfielder has been exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro, with the latter out of contract at the end of the season, although Ruben Amorim is now open to offering the Brazilian a new contract.
The 33-year-old has been a key player for Man United this season, at the expense of Mainoo, who is now in advanced talks over a move to Napoli, with the youngster still yet to start a match in the Premier League.
It would, of course, be a shame to see the 20-year-old depart, given that the academy graduate has previously proven he has what it takes to succeed at Old Trafford, most notably leading United to glory in the 2024 FA Cup final.
However, should Mainoo move on, it will become even more important to bring in a new option in the middle of the park, and another English midfielder is now of interest.
Man Utd plotting January offer for Conor Gallagher
According to a report from Spain, Man United are now plotting a €50m (£44m) January offer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, having identified the 25-year-old as one of their priority targets for the next transfer window.
However, there are a plethora of other targets on the shortlist, including Angelo Stiller, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Andrey Santos and Elliot Anderson, with Amorim specifically requesting the board sign a midfielder, and he certainly shouldn’t be short on options to choose from.
The United boss has already given the green light for INEOS to sign the former Chelsea man, who has found consistent game time hard to come by at Atletico this season, predominantly being utilised as a substitute in La Liga.
With a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad up for grabs, the English maestro will no doubt want to receive more consistent game time ahead of the summer, and his all-round attributes indicate he could be a solid addition to Amorim’s midfield.
When given the opportunity, the 22-time England international has been a consistent source of goals and assists for Atletico, while also showcasing his defensive capabilities on a regular basis over the past year.
Conor Gallagher’s best attributes
Average per 90 (past year)
Non-penalty goals
0.20 (90th percentile)
Assists
0.20 (85th percentile)
Interceptions
1.72 (98th percentile)
Lauded as “incredible” by former player Darren Ambrose, Gallagher is also proven in the Premier League, chipping in with five goals and seven assists in his final season as a Chelsea player, so there are plenty of signs he could be a real difference-maker in United’s push for Europe.
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The Red Devils are looking to improve their options in the middle of the park this winter.
ByDominic Lund