Tottenham Hotspur are set to secure the signing of Conor Gallagher, and his versatility could offer Thomas Frank several tactical options across the midfield this winter.
Tottenham Hotspur look set to secure the signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid after fending off interest from Aston Villa.
€40 million (£34.3 million) for the 25-year-old could prove to be a bargain for Spurs if the former Chelsea man settles in quickly.
Gallagher has a wealth of Premier League experience thanks to stints at Chelsea, West Brom and Crystal Palace, which is a bonus for Spurs and could limit his learning curve.
The 25-year-old is also capable of filling in across several positions, giving Thomas Frank even more tactical flexibility, and we have now highlighted three areas where he could be particularly effective ahead of his winter move.
Gallagher can be deployed in the pivot role alongside Joao Palhinha.
This is perhaps the most obvious option given the injury Rodrigo Bentancur has sustained, which is set to keep him out for at least three months.
The Uruguayan, when fit, is usually deployed in that pivot role as either the main holding midfielder or in a supporting position with licence to roam, and Gallagher could operate comfortably in either role as a like-for-like replacement, albeit with a more attacking edge and a greater eye for goal.
If deployed as an eight, Frank will need to make the most of Gallagher’s tenacity, which allows him to join attacks while still covering defensively as a box-to-box midfielder.
That could help address Spurs’ tendency to become back-footed at times, when progressing the ball up the pitch becomes difficult, and goals are harder to come by.
Gallagher can act as a third-man runner, arriving late to convert cutbacks while still maintaining defensive structure, a role Frank will surely consider given his proven output from deeper areas.
Interestingly, statistics do show how effective the former Chelsea man has been in front of goal from deeper roles, with 36 goals and 29 assists in 237 appearances as both a central midfielder and a holding midfielder.
| Played as | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central midfield | 178 | 22 | 23 |
| Defensive midfield | 59 | 14 | 6 |
Conor Gallagher could be deployed as a number ten
Tottenham Hotspur currently have a shortage of options in the number ten role, with Xavi Simons the only fit player available.
James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall are all sidelined through injury, while Pape Matar Sarr remains on AFCON duty.
With limited cover in advanced areas, Gallagher is another strong option for Thomas Frank, as the 25-year-old is capable of performing there.
So far in his career, Gallagher has featured 68 times in the attacking midfield role and has been effective in that position.
In those 68 appearances, the Englishman has registered nine goals and 13 assists, highlighting his ability to both score and create.
That gives Frank another tactical option further up the pitch, depending on his approach.
If Gallagher is used there, Spurs’ starting XI could look like this: Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray, Conor Gallagher, Xavi Simons, Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert.
Conor Gallagher could be used off the left at Tottenham
While playing off the left is far from the Gallagher’s preferred position, the former Chelsea man is intelligent enough to adapt and can do a job there, as he has shown across his career.
The midfielder has featured 22 times on the left and 14 times on the right, scoring five goals and registering four assists from wide areas.
Frank has often used a 4-2-2-2 system, and Gallagher’s profile suits that setup, as he is capable of operating as a wide midfielder who can drift inside when Tottenham play narrower in possession.
Such a system would combine Gallagher’s ability to play wide and centrally, offering tactical balance when Spurs look to control games.
Here is how Tottenham could line up with Gallagher on the left: Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray, Conor Gallagher, Xavi Simons, Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel.