Two Premier League teams line up return for €42m midfielder which would embarrass Chelsea dealmakers | OneFootball

Conor Gallagher moved to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea last summer for €42m, and has since made a solid start to life in Spain.

He’s not played every week, but has been a valuable piece for Diego Simeone. Still, the fact that he’s not an every-week regular for Atleti has led to the spawning of some rumours about his future.

Fichajes aren’t the best source, but they’ve already started the whispers that Simeone isn’t “convinced” by the midfielder, and is already thinking of selling him. Interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa, who wanted to sign Gallagher from Chelsea last summer, is mentioned.

It’s easy to see England capped Gallagher would have plenty of interest from those teams – his intense style would fit them well. He’s already shown he can perform in the Premier League, and if he’s available, there would be no shortage of suitors, we’d imagine.

Gallagher a long way from potential Premier League return yet

Conor Gallagher warming up for Atletico Madrid (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

If Gallagher were to move to a Premier League team for more than Chelsea sold him for last summer, it would be egg on the face of the sporting directors – especially as they used the money they got for Gallagher in signing Joao Felix, who has already been loaned out and looks likely to leave permanently for a loss himself.

A double deal that looked bad from the start would look even worse then in financial terms – and given Gallagher would have been very useful to our squad this season, in football terms too.

But we can’t see it happening – we’d back Conor to win over his new coach before too long, especially with plenty of minutes to go around as Atletico go deep in several competitions. Gallagher’s legs and enthusiasm will become all the more valuable as things get to the business end.