Aston Villa are looking to add some "Premier League grit" to their title charge. On Friday, January 9, 2026, reports from Sky Sports and talkSPORT confirmed that Unai Emery is actively exploring a deal to bring Conor Gallagher back to England from Atletico Madrid.
Villa, currently sitting 3rd in the table and just six points off the top, view Gallagher as the ideal profile to bolster their midfield for a historic second half of the season.
The Deal: Loan vs. Permanent Standoff
While the interest is concrete, the two clubs are currently locked in negotiations over the structure of the transfer.
Villa’s Proposal: An initial loan with an obligation to buy in the summer for approximately £35–40 million. This would allow Villa to stay within PSR (Profit and Sustainability) limits for the current window.
Atletico’s Stance: Diego Simeone’s side would prefer an outright permanent sale immediately. Having paid £38 million for the midfielder in 2024, they are looking to recoup their full investment to fund their own January targets.
The Harvey Elliott Factor: Reports suggest Villa’s move for Gallagher may depend on the future of Harvey Elliott. Villa are currently discussing the potential termination of Elliott’s loan from Liverpool to free up space and funds for the Gallagher deal.
The "Tuchel" Motivation
Why would Gallagher leave Madrid after becoming a fan favorite at the Metropolitano? The answer lies in the 2026 World Cup.
With Thomas Tuchel now at the helm of the England national team, Gallagher is reportedly concerned that his lack of starts in La Liga could jeopardize his place in the squad. Despite appearing in almost every game this season, he has only started four league matches, often being used as a high-energy "closer" by Simeone.
A Summer Mistake Rectified?
There is a sense of "unfinished business" here. In the summer of 2024, Aston Villa actually had a higher bid accepted by Chelsea than Atletico Madrid did.
At the time, Gallagher chose the "Spanish adventure," but after 18 months in Madrid, the lure of returning to a Villa side that is now a genuine Premier League contender is reportedly very strong.
The Verdict: This is a high-level chess match. Atletico don't need to sell, but they recognize Gallagher is too good to sit on the bench. If Villa can navigate the PSR hurdles and find a solution for Harvey Elliott, Gallagher could be the signing that turns Villa from "top-four contenders" into "title favorites."