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Conor Gallagher is close to a return to the Premier League, with Tottenham agreeing a deal with Atletico Madrid
Tottenham are closing in on the signing of Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher.
football.london revealed on Sunday that Spurs stepped up their pursuit for the former Chelsea favourite despite strong interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
The north Londoners escalated their search for a new midfielder on Monday after it was confirmed that Rodrigo Bentancur requires hamstring surgery and is set to miss at least three months of action.
Spurs and Atletico are understood to have now agreed a deal worth around €40million (£34.7m), with Villa never striking a formal agreement with the Spanish giants.
Gallagher will travel to London early this week to undergo a medical and finalise the transfer. He's expected to sign a long-term contract, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.
football.london understands Atletico preferred to sell the 25-year-old permanently this month rather than a loan with a view or obligation to buy in the summer.
Spurs' apparent success in landing Gallagher will be a big blow for Villa, with Unai Emery short of midfield options due to injuries sustained by Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley.
For the norther Londoners, it's a huge statement signing as Frank looks to recover from a disastrous winter period, with a run of two wins in 12 Premier League matches leaving them down in 14th in the table.
Ultimately, Spurs have learnt from past mistakes including the messy Eberechi Eze saga in the summer, which saw the playmaker change his mind late on and instead move to fierce north London rivals Arsenal.
This time, though, Spurs have seemingly claimed bragging rights over one of their Premier League rivals and it's a signing that should suit both parties.
Gallagher has struggled for regular first-team action under Diego Simeone this season, making just four starts in LaLiga, and he is now keen on a return to the Premier League.
He will be hoping a fresh start boosts his chances of winning over Thomas Tuchel as he aims to earn a spot in the England squad for the World Cup this summer.
Gallagher enjoyed a hugely successful spell in the English top-flight before his move to Atletico, having announced himself during an impressive loan spell with Crystal Palace in 2021-22. He returned to Stamford Bridge to become a key part in the first-team and captained the Blues before being pushed towards the exit in a £33million move.
He has 136 Premier League appearances to his name, having also had a spell on loan at West Brom before his breakout season at Palace, with 18 goals and 13 assists.
At 25, he still has plenty to offer and will bring a wealth of experience to a squad that needs a big boost.
Frank has endured a tough start to his tenure after arriving from Brentford in the summer, with the FA Cup third-round defeat by Aston Villa piling more pressure on the head coach.
He has won only five of his last 20 matches and lost seven of his last 13 in all competitions - and he will be hoping fresh faces can improve his fortunes.
Spurs are on the brink of completing another signing too, with highly-rated Brazilian left-back Souza closing in on a £13m move from Santos.
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