Leeds United eye move to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid
Leeds United have reportedly indicated an interest in bringing Conor Gallagher back to the Premier League.
The Atletico Madrid midfielder has admitted he is unsatisfied with the amount of playing time he is getting under Diego Simeone and speculation is now mounting over his future ahead of the January transfer window.
Leeds once tried to sign Gallagher on loan under Marcelo Bielsa only to lose out to Crystal Palace, where he enjoyed a transformative spell before breaking into the Chelsea first team.
Daniel Farke is now under mounting pressure after Leeds lost 2-1 to Aston Villa, but it appears the Whites have been investigating potential additions behind the scenes prior to the market re-opening in the New Year.
Leeds unlikely to have ‘realistic’ chance of Gallagher deal
Sky Sports report that Premier League clubs are expected to “queue up” to land the 25-year-old in January, with Leeds among 16 top-flight sides to have shown interest in him.
Only his former side Chelsea, along with Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City, are not in the frame, but of all the clubs who have been eyeing him nearly all face disappointment.
Enquiries were reportedly made to Atletico in the summer and dismissed as the Spanish giants weren’t willing to do a loan deal, which is expected to be the case once more.
While a permanent deal, tipped to be worth at least £35 million, could be on the table it is believed that Gallagher himself would only consider a top club currently competing in Europe if he is to leave Madrid and make a late push for Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
Leeds window hinges on Farke sack
It would appear that Leeds have little chance of success if the race is so wide for Gallagher and they are struggling in the bottom three.
Even a good word put in by former Chelsea teammate Ethan Ampadu is unlikely to make much of a difference if the Englishman has options with European football on the table.
Either way, the club’s plans for January rest hugely on what 49ers Enterprises intend to do with the manager.
Farke feels like he is on borrowed time at Leeds, and Paraag Marathe will remember Andrea Radrizzani’s huge mess in sacking Jesse Marsch.
So a decision on Farke needs to be made sooner rather than later, as a replacement will need the window to alter the squad and backing the German with new signings really should mean he is then given time to bed them in.
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