Sports
Aston Villa Close to Agreement to Sign Conor Gallagher
Aston Villa are on the verge of agreeing a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign Conor Gallagher, according to GIVEMESPORT senior reporter Fabrizio Romano.
GIVEMESPORT revealed on Sunday that Villa were keen on the 25-year-old, and now talks between them and the La Liga club over a January move are advancing, with a breakthrough in discussions between the two clubs close.
The Midlands outfit are looking to strengthen Unai Emery’s squad this month in order to keep them in Premier League title contention, as well as boosting their bid to win the Europa League.
Aston Villa have already brought in Alysson from Gremio to strengthen their attack this month.
Aston Villa Talks With Atletico Madrid at ‘Final Stages’
Gallagher has been linked with moves to both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks, with one report suggesting that Spurs had opened informal talks over a move for the Englishman this weekend.
However, it is Villa that appear to be stealing a march on signing Gallagher this month, with Romano confirming via his X account on Monday afternoon that talks are at the ‘final stages’ over a loan deal with a buy option clause that will eventually become mandatory.
As Villa look to close an agreement with Atletico in the following hours, talks will continue on the player side to convince the £200,000-a-week star about a mid-season switch to Villa Park.
Gallagher is determined to play regularly in the second half of the season to boost his chances of being named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup this summer, having seen his minutes reduced under Diego Simeone this term.
Villa on Course for Busy January Window
While Villa could be about to bolster their midfield with Gallagher, there could also be changes in their attack too.
According to Di Marzio, AS Roma have reached an agreement in principle over a loan deal with an option to buy for Villa forward Donyell Malen, with the decision now up to the player.
Meanwhile, as reported by GMS on Sunday, the Midlands club is also interested in bringing Tammy Abraham back to the club for a second spell to provide competition for Ollie Watkins.
Abraham is currently on loan at Besiktas from AS Roma, with the Italian club preferring a permanent sale if they are to strike a deal before the February 2 deadline.
Harvey Elliott in Limbo
Another player who faces an uncertain short-term future is Harvey Elliott.
Emery has already publicly confirmed that he no longer wants the 22-year-old, with Villa needing to approach Liverpool to terminate the loan for a player they’d need to pay £35m for should he make five more appearances for him.
The Merseyside outfit aren’t actively looking to bring him back to Anfield, while Elliott can only play for a select number of teams for the remainder of this season due to the FIFA ruling about playing for more than two clubs in a season.
A move to the MLS had been an option, but it’s not a move that interests the midfielder at the current time.
Unai Emery Personally Asks Aston Villa to Sign ‘Phenomenal’ Star in January
Unai Emery has personally asked for Aston Villa to seal a deal to bring this ‘phenomenal’ attacker to the club in January.
