Aston Villa are closing in on an agreement with Atlético Madrid for the signing of Conor Gallagher.
Negotiations between the two clubs are now at an advanced stage, with talks progressing towards a loan deal that includes a buy option, which is expected to become mandatory under certain conditions.
Villa have been pushing to add midfield reinforcements this month, and Gallagher has long been a key target for Unai Emery, having previously been considered during the summer of 2024 before the European Championships.
The England international joined Atlético Madrid from Chelsea for £36million in that window but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Diego Simeone, making 51 LaLiga appearances, with more than half coming from the bench.
Atlético were initially reluctant to sanction a loan move, but the Spanish club are now open to Gallagher leaving provided there is a clear pathway to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
Discussions on the player’s side are now expected to continue as Villa look to finalise personal terms and push the deal over the line.
Tottenham have been loosely linked with the midfielder but are not believed to have entered the race at this stage, while Crystal Palace have also shown interest, though their preference was for a straight loan.
Villa’s urgency has increased following Boubacar Kamara’s injury sustained against Tottenham in the FA Cup on Saturday. The French midfielder was seen wearing strapping after the match, raising concerns he could face a spell on the sidelines.
With that setback in mind, Villa are accelerating their pursuit of Gallagher as they look to strengthen their midfield options for the remainder of the season.