Conor Gallagher is heavily linked with a move to Tottenham after falling down the pecking order at Atletico Madrid
Tottenham have managed to endure a brilliant start to the new season under Thomas Frank. The Lilywhites have won three of their opening five matches in the Premier League, beating the likes of Manchester City and West Ham United away from home. However, despite the positive results, there are still some glaring issues on the pitch that the North London club needs to address.
One of the biggest concerns lies in the #8 role. Ever since James Maddison ruptured his ACL in a pre-season game back in August, Spurs have been without a creative midfielder capable of partnering Joao Palhinha in the centre of the park. With Maddison sidelined for six to seven months, the club may be forced to seek a replacement when the transfer window reopens in January.
So far, Thomas Frank has turned to Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr to fill the void left behind by Maddison, and both players have stepped up impressively. Each has brought a unique dynamic to the midfield, offering drive, energy, and the ability to make progressive runs into attacking areas.
Signing Conor Gallagher would be pointless for Tottenham
There is no surprise that Tottenham are looking to add more tenacity and energy in the middle of the park in January. That is exactly why the Lilywhites are linked with a move for Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher. The England international has fallen down the pecking order under Diego Simeone and wants to return to the Premier League for regular minutes. Not only that, but the North London club is also planning to put a compelling offer of around £45m for his signature.
But John Wenham believes that Spurs may not need to sign the 25-year-old after Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr’s emergence this season. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said,
“I think he was a player that Postecoglou really wanted. But now I think over the course of this season, we’ll see the real emergence and increased performance and values of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr to the point where next summer we won’t be looking for another midfielder.”
The Lilywhite Rose owner added,
“That’s genuinely what I think. I think they’ll improve that much that they’ll be two of the first names on the team sheet, and it’ll be one of Joao Palhinha or Rodrigo Bentancur, with those two. That’s the kind of trajectory they seem to be going on at the moment.”
John Wenham believes that Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr will slowly prove to be instant starters for Tottenham as the season progresses, forcing the Lilywhites to not add another midfielder to their ranks in the upcoming transfer windows. The Lilywhite Rose owner can see the pair becoming instant starters under Thomas Frank, with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur left to fight for the other spot in the midfield.
In truth, Spurs may be better off addressing other areas of the pitch rather than spending big on another central midfielder. Bergvall has already shown he can thrive as a box-to-box player in Frank’s system, with his energy and tireless running making him a key contributor.
Moreover, splashing a huge fee on Gallagher could hinder the development of both Bergvall and Sarr, who need consistent game time to reach their full potential. At this stage, prioritising their growth may prove more valuable for Spurs in the long run than adding another body to an already competitive midfield.
