Manchester United remains undecided on signing Gallagher, as he struggles to replace Casemiro! Amolin clarifies recruitment criteria.

Manchester United continues to be linked with the potential January signing of Conor Gallagher. The club attempted to loan him before the summer transfer window closed, but Atlético Madrid insisted on a permanent sale, which United were unwilling to accept. Similar challenges persist heading into the winter window.

Gallagher has long been associated with a move to Manchester United in 2026, which is unsurprising given the Red Devils’ plans to add one or two midfielders next year. Almost every potential transfer target faces scrutiny. Gallagher is considered one of the likeliest January signings, making him a focal point, especially since few believe that Adam Walton and Elliot Anderson will definitely join United in the winter.

In contrast, Gallagher's time in Spain has been difficult; this season, he has barely convinced Diego Simeone that he deserves a starting spot. Simeone’s attitude towards Gallagher is similar to Ruben Amorim’s towards Coby Meno: "Gallagher is one of the best at pressing and competes with several teammates for a starting role. We have nine matches in December, so every player is needed."

Gallagher is a midfielder suited to Manchester United but does not fully meet the current needs. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes have recently performed steadily in the 3-4-3 midfield setup, reducing Amorim’s urgency for a new midfielder, though the team still requires reinforcements in that position.

Manchester United’s sporting director Jason Wilcox insists that recruitment will focus on players who are both talented and capable of handling pressure. Gallagher fits these criteria but may not provide an immediate impact in Amorim’s squad.

In over 60 appearances for Atlético Madrid, Gallagher has only played three games as a defensive midfielder. At Chelsea, the 25-year-old England international primarily operated as an attacking midfielder, protected by Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo. Before the 2024 European Championship, Southgate tried deploying him as England’s defensive midfielder, which proved disastrous.

Statistics show Gallagher averages 1.33 shots per 90 minutes, ranking well among players in Europe’s top five leagues, but his average of 48.34 passes and 0.47 aerial duels per game make it difficult for him to be a key controlling midfielder.

Although Gallagher can bring energy and tenacity to midfield, with Bruno Fernandes guaranteed a starting spot at Manchester United, Gallagher cannot replace Casemiro’s role. Like Coby Meno, he can only serve as a substitute for Bruno Fernandes.

Premier League transfer expert Dean Jones told British media outlet TEAMtalk that Manchester United is not expected to engage in any loan deals in January, neither incoming nor outgoing. This means no loan signing of Gallagher and no loan departure for Meno.

Jones explained: "Gallagher is frequently mentioned because he could realistically be available on the transfer market. Among midfielders of this caliber in Europe, there are few with Premier League experience like him. However, I maintain that if it’s just a loan until the season’s end, Manchester United will not sign him."

Reportedly, Amorim’s requirement for Manchester United’s winter signings is that players must be capable of helping the team both now and in the future (players who can help today and tomorrow).

Jones stated: "My understanding is that Amorim wants players for the long term. In other words, if they bring someone in, it means they believe the player will remain beyond next summer. I don’t think Gallagher is the top priority, but he is certainly a convenient option. It will be interesting to see soon if Manchester United really feels the need to take such action in January."