Man United's first January transfer 'decided' after Antoine Semenyo blow as £26m man available

Ruben Amorim faces a logical decision in where to look for Manchester United's first winter signing after receiving bad news in the hunt to sign Antoine Semenyo

Manchester United may have suffered a major setback in their pursuit of Antoine Semenyo, but it doesn't have to be all bad news this January. And in fact, Ruben Amorim is presented with a much more straightforward proposition for a first winter signing.

It's emerged United are some was down on Semenyo's list of priorities, and the forward would prefer a January switch to rivals Manchester City. A mid-season move for the Ghana international always looked complicated, however, given Semenyo's £65million release clause is likely out of United's winter spending range.

For less than half that fee, Amorim could instead add to another lacking department by signing Conor Gallagher instead. Midfield was already viewed as an area in need of reinforcements in the summer when United failed to fill their ranks.

Failure to act then could in fact aid United's chances now, however, given Gallagher has been largely a bit-part player at Atletico Madrid this season. The England international has been routinely used as a replacement by Diego Simeone, making only eight starts from his 25 total appearances so far this term, only four of which have come in La Liga.

Any chance for a return to England might improve the former Chelsea and Crystal Palace star's chance of landing a place in Thoms Tuchel's squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. And Gallagher, who enjoyed a very fruitful first season in Spain, has himself confessed he's not content with how things have played out in recent months.

"I’m not satisfied," he told AS in November. "I don’t think anyone will be if they don’t play as much as they would like, but I will continue to work very hard to, whenever I have the opportunity, help the team and hopefully more opportunities will come to be a starter."

As if there wasn't enough to like about Gallagher's commitment to the cause, he continued to display the kind of ethic most managers would love to work with. While others might use the media as a tool to execute a departure or lay blame elsewhere, Gallagher refused and in fact reiterated just how much he was enjoying himself in Spain.

He continued: "I’m very happy here. My goal is to win titles with Atleti, and I want to have a bigger role in the team. And, as I said, I’m going to continue working to the maximum to play more minutes and be able to help the team."

In a world where United have made a litany of character misjudgements in the transfer market, that's the kind of attitude the club requires. Not to mention Gallagher would be supplementing a midfield in even direr need of aid after captain Bruno Fernandes' recent injury.

An ageing Casemiro is likely to leave the club this summer, while Kobbie Mainoo is hardly considered an option under Amorim. Fernandes has also stirred speculation after recently confessing United didn't make him feel appreciated when Saudi clubs raised interest in his signature last summer.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano suggested on his YouTube channel that Gallagher could be available for as little as £26million. That figure seems incredibly modest for a 22-cap England international who is still just 25 and hasn't had a notable injury to date in his professional career.

If United are really counting the pennies, it's not unfeasible the club could sanction a more cost-effective loan for Gallagher, though Atleti are reportedly adamant on a permanent deal should he leave. The move would also reunite the player with former Chelsea pal Mason Mount, who has once again started to show promise after overcoming his injury woes at United.

To put Gallagher's supposed transfer valuation into context, it's almost identical to the sum United received for Scott McTominay almost 18 months ago. It's no secret that fee looks like a pittance after McTominay went on to be named Serie A's Most Valuable Player in his first term with Napoli, and Gallagher has a similar task in attempting to prove any doubters wrong.

There's also the added bonus that Gallagher would fulfil a space in United's homegrown quota should he arrive at Old Trafford. And a player motivated to earn his way back into Tuchel's good books after being omitted from recent England squads won't be short on desire.

In short, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken more ill-advised risks on players who didn't fit United's needs as well as Gallagher, and at much greater expense. There may be much grander moves United can still make next month, but Atletico's misfit ticks an awful lot of boxes as a sensible deal to open their winter business.