Man Utd receive Conor Gallagher update as timeline for potential deal revealed

Tom Weber

• 1 Jan 2026 14:02 CST
• 3 min read

News

Manchester United may have to bide their time until the end of January before making a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, according to a report.

The Red Devils are planning to add at least two new midfielders to Ruben Amorim's squad in 2026, but there is major uncertainty over whether they will already be able to bring someone in in January.

There is an acceptance that Man Utd's priority targets - Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton - are unavailable mid-season, so they may have to settle for a 'lesser' option this month.

This is why Man Utd, if they are to do a January deal, are planning to employ a try-before-you-buy strategy by loaning a player with the option of making his stint permanent in the summer.

Conor Gallagher, who was already sounded out in the previous window, is one of the names under consideration, but this deal will ultimately hinge on Atletico Madrid's willingness to reach a compromise.

Gallagher deal timeline

According to TEAMtalk, any loan deal for Gallagher will likely have to be subsidised by Atleti due to the England international's hefty wage. It is not thought that his suitors would be prepared to shoulder his full salary, which is in excess of €230,000 per week.

Naturally, this complicates a potential move to Man Utd. Additionally, Ben Jacobs reports that Atleti would still favour a permanent exit for a fee north of €35 million and are currently not inclined to sanction a loan.

This is why there has been precious little movement on the Gallagher front in recent weeks. Interest has been registered, but no suitors have as yet made any kind of concrete approaches for him.

The journalist posits that Man Utd may have to show patience until later in the window. If the circumstances are right, Atleti may be forced to soften their stance on a loan further down the line, which would allow the Red Devils to be opportunistic and pounce.

Jacobs does not expect Man Utd to be reckless this month and to sign someone purely for the sake of adding a body to Amorim's squad. This is also why he urges caution regarding claims that the Red Devils could make a move for €100m-rated Yan Diomande this month.

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