A must-buy! Manchester United reportedly ready to offer €30 million for Gallagher in the winter window, without affecting summer plans for star signings.

As reported by Spain’s "Fichajes" transfer portal, Manchester United has made a preliminary offer of €30 million (£26 million) to Atlético Madrid for midfielder Conor Gallagher, with the intention to bring him in during the January window. The 25-year-old Englishman is a potential winter signing and the cheapest candidate.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs from "GIVEMESPORT" stated that Manchester United plans to bring in two new midfielders by 2026, with the only uncertainty being which transfer window the signings will occur in. United has been linked with several midfielders, notably Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Hložek. However, a winter move for these three seems highly unlikely.

Although it’s currently unclear if Atlético Madrid will accept the bid, they paid €42 million to Chelsea for Gallagher. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed United’s interest, noting Gallagher fits Amourin’s criteria for a dynamic midfielder who can press high and contribute on both ends of the pitch.

Gallagher, who has scored 6 goals and provided 6 assists in 70 appearances for Atlético, meets all these requirements. Additionally, he is willing to sign in January at a reasonable price, unlike Anderson, Hložek, or Baleba.

Furthermore, Gallagher has Premier League experience with Chelsea and Crystal Palace, proving his ability to compete at England’s top level— a new recruitment requirement emphasized by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, as seen with Cunha and Mbemou.

This season, Gallagher has struggled to secure a regular starting spot under Diego Simeone, which is one of the main reasons he might opt to leave in January. Failing that, he risks missing out on selection for Tuchel’s England squad and the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America.

Gallagher has been absent from the last three England call-ups. To ensure participation in the 2026 World Cup, he needs consistent playing time to have a chance to travel to North America. He is open to a move to Old Trafford, where joining a high-profile Premier League club like Manchester United would help him achieve this goal.

If Manchester United signs Gallagher at a favorable price, it is unlikely to hinder future midfield acquisitions. With players like Cody Gakpo, Casemiro, Fred, and even Bruno Fernandes facing uncertain futures at Old Trafford, Amourin will still need additional midfield rotation options.

However, United must still convince Atlético Madrid to accept the offer. It’s easy to imagine the "Colchoneros" will seek a higher transfer fee, and new developments are expected in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Manchester United is actively scouting young midfield talents. This week, reports emerged that the Red Devils are interested in 16-year-old prodigy Mohamed Zongo. Currently playing domestically in Burkina Faso, Zongo is an attack-minded midfielder who can also operate as a right winger. He impressed at the recent FIFA U17 World Cup by scoring twice and helping Burkina Faso reach the quarterfinals. According to "Insight Offside," Manchester United, Villarreal, and Anderlecht have all contacted him, though Chelsea appears to have an advantage in the race.