Reports out of Spain suggest Aston Villa are back in the hunt for Conor Gallagher. Recent shifts in Madrid have given Unai Emery a fresh chance to land his long-term target. Sunday’s edition of Marca, as relayed by Sport Witness, claims that Atlético Madrid’s winter transfer plans have run into trouble.
Aston Villa Handed Fresh Opening for Conor Gallagher
This delay effectively opens the door for the England midfielder to head back to the Premier League. The whole situation depends on a separate negotiation involving Giacomo Raspadori. The Madrid board is desperate to move him on to AS Roma.
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According to the Spanish outlet, talks between Atlético and Roma for the Italian forward have hit a wall. Raspadori is reportedly wavering on the move. His hesitation is starting to annoy the Colchoneros camp. Roma are losing patience with the striker’s indecision.
In fact, they have threatened to scrap the deal altogether. This standoff has a direct impact on Gallagher. Atlético have to clear players out to balance their books. They also need to raise money for their own signings this month.
If the Raspadori deal falls through, the Spanish side would likely shift their focus to selling Gallagher. At that point, selling him becomes a financial must rather than a tactical preference. Marca notes that Gallagher could be up for grabs for around €30m.
Interestingly, the report suggests Atlético might take even less. This might happen if they get more desperate to trim their wage bill. They have pitched the €30m price tag to various clubs for weeks with no takers. This means Aston Villa could land a bargain, especially if the Raspadori drama keeps dragging on.
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The report calls the deal hard to pull off right now. However, the market changes fast. If the move for the Italian striker fails, Gallagher’s exit will suddenly become the top priority for Diego Simeone’s side.
A Perfect Window for Emery to Move?
EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – DECEMBER 09: Conor Gallagher of Atletico de Madrid runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between PSV Eindhoven and Atletico de Madrid at PSV Stadion on December 09, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
This whole situation creates an interesting opportunity for Aston Villa. Unai Emery seemingly likes the Englishman. He might see Gallagher’s high-energy pressing and discipline as a great match for the Villa midfield. The big question is: Do Villa actually need him?
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In short, yes. The club are playing in multiple competitions right now. Bringing in a player of Gallagher’s level would add vital quality to the team. He has Champions League experience and knows the Premier League well. His style of breaking up play fits exactly what Emery wants. The 25-year-old also carries the ball forward with the kind of drive Emery looks for in his midfielders.
As for the actual chances of signing him, things look good for Villa. If Atlético cannot sell Raspadori, they will have no choice but to sell someone else to fix their finances. A fee of €30m (about £25m) is great value for a 25-year-old England international.
Villa’s recruitment team usually jumps on these kinds of openings. They will probably keep a very close eye on what happens with Raspadori. If Roma walk away as threatened, Villa could step in with a lower offer.
Atlético are short on time and money, so they would find it hard to say no. It’s clear the Madrid club want to sell; they just need a real offer. For Villa, this is a rare chance to get a top player for a lot less than his usual price.