Tottenham are close to signing a player Mauricio Pochettino thinks is ‘priceless’
Tottenham could be about to land one of their long-term targets, and former manager Mauricio Pochettino is a huge fan.
Despite being knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa and watching their European ambitions fall by the wayside, Thomas Frank is yet to complete his first signing of the January transfer window.
Tottenham are in the market for a new striker in a bid to fix their goalscoring problems, while an all-action midfielder is on the agenda following Rodrigo Bentancur’s hamstring injury.
Bentancur has been ruled out for three months, and as a result, Spurs are edging closer to landing a solution to the Uruguayan’s absence.
Tottenham submit £34m bid for Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher was linked with a switch to Tottenham during the summer, although the Englishman remained at Atletico Madrid.
Since then, the 25-year-old has pushed for an exit from the Spanish giants after complaining about his game time, and Spurs are pushing to sign Gallagher ahead of their Premier League rivals this month.
🚨 EXCL: Tottenham Hotspur closing in on deal to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. Clubs nearing agreement after #THFC made €40m proposal – expected to be accepted by #Atleti + 25yo England international believed to be keen on move @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/lCHpTEwyYB
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 12, 2026
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Tottenham have submitted a £34million bid for the former Chelsea midfield machine, and that is expected to be accepted.
The report claims that Gallagher is “keen on the move” and the possibility of working under Frank, with a return to England on the cards.
Spurs require a high-energy, ball-carrying machine in the middle of the park, and Gallagher possesses those attributes as well as an eye for goal.
The former Crystal Palace loanee once scored eight goals for Chelsea in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, and if he can show a similar threat for the Lilywhites, he could become a hero in North London.
What Mauricio Pochettino has said about Gallagher
Gallagher could become the latest player to have represented Spurs and Chelsea after the likes of Dominic Solanke and Timo Werner.
| Players who have played for Tottenham and Chelsea |
| Carlo Cudicini |
| William Gallas |
| Eidur Gudjohnsen |
| Scott Parker |
| Gus Poyet |
| Dominic Solanke |
| Neil Sullivan |
| Timo Werner |
Someone who has also represented both clubs, but in management, is Mauricio Pochettino, who enjoyed a successful spell at Tottenham between 2014 and 2019 before spending a season in charge of the Blues in 2023/24.
Incidentally, Pochettino managed Gallagher during his short time at Stamford Bridge, and the Argentine labelled the midfielder as “priceless” after scoring two goals against Crystal Palace.
“I think he is a player with a great commitment to the team,” Pochettino said via BBC Sport in February 2024.
“He is always trying to compensate in every situation, in offensive and defensive situations. It’s priceless to have a player like him.”