“Could be an opportunity…”: Manchester United given hope of signing “priceless” La Liga midfielder in January

Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher wants a Premier League return. (REUTERS/Susana Vera)

Manchester United’s steady revival under Rúben Amorim continued at the weekend with a battling 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, extending their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches.

A dramatic 96th-minute header from Matthijs de Ligt rescued a point for the Reds, keeping their upward momentum alive and lifting them to seventh in the table — a marked improvement from the turbulence of last season.

Amorim has instilled structure, energy, and attacking belief into this United side, with players like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha beginning to thrive.

Yet, despite the progress, the Portuguese manager reportedly wants further reinforcements in January — particularly in midfield, where he’s targeting a familiar and realistic option.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, speaking on GiveMeSport’s Market Madness podcast, Manchester United remain in the market for a midfielder — and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher could be one to watch.

Romano revealed that the club will almost certainly move for at least one midfielder in 2026 but hinted that Gallagher might become an attainable option sooner than expected.

“Conor Gallagher could be an opportunity,” Romano explained. “But Atletico Madrid didn’t want to let him go in August. So let’s see what happens in the January window.”

The England international — once described as “priceless” by former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino — has adapted impressively to life in La Liga since joining Atletico in the summer. However, United are said to be monitoring his situation closely in case the Spanish side open the door to a deal mid-season.

Romano also noted that Angelo Stiller of Stuttgart is another player admired by United’s recruitment team:

“Angelo Stiller is also a player they appreciate from Stuttgart, but I don’t see a German club selling one of their stars in the January window at all. So January is not going to be easy. It’s going to be about opportunities — the summer could be different.”

With United continuing to evolve under Amorim, the addition of a dynamic midfielder like Gallagher — who already boasts vast Premier League experience from spells at Chelsea and Crystal Palace — could prove a perfect fit to elevate their push for a top-four finish.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.