Manchester United's plan to sign Gallagher in the winter transfer window is confirmed! A £60 million defensive midfielder may be offloaded, with interest from the Turkish Super Lig.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Manchester United may attempt to re-sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher during the January 2026 winter transfer window. The 25-year-old English player has struggled for consistent playing time under Diego Simeone this season. The Red Devils tried to loan him in the summer and could make another move in winter.

It remains uncertain whether Manchester United can secure a new midfielder in January. Mid-season signings like Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Walton, and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson are considered extremely challenging. Gallagher’s case is quite different as the player is willing to transfer and Atletico Madrid is open to selling.

At the end of August, Manchester United made a last-minute loan offer for Gallagher, including an option to buy. Atletico Madrid immediately rejected the proposal because they did not want to lose Gallagher without a replacement. With only 48 hours left before the summer window closed, there was no time to find a substitute.

Romano stated that Manchester United still value Gallagher. Although he is not the top choice for a new midfielder, he is considered a backup option if conditions are right. Sources close to Atletico emphasize that a permanent transfer is the only way to sign Gallagher in January, as they are not considering loans, with a transfer fee expected to be around €30-35 million.

The transfer window has not yet opened, so the situation may change. However, at present, loaning Gallagher without a purchase option is an unacceptable proposal. In the coming weeks, all parties will continue discussions to better understand the final arrangement.

Crystal Palace tried to bring Gallagher back in August. They previously loaned him from Chelsea, where he had his career-best performances at Selhurst Park. The "Eagles" still highly regard Gallagher but consider the price too steep. Meanwhile, some Italian clubs have recently made inquiries about potential deal terms for Gallagher.

Besides the transfer method and fee, Gallagher’s wages are reportedly an obstacle. He earns £200,000 per week at Atletico, including bonuses, and this amount would likely need to be reduced for a return to the Premier League. However, among English clubs interested in Gallagher, Manchester United is joined by Newcastle United, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur.

If Manchester United sign Gallagher in the winter, it would not prevent them from pursuing other priority targets next summer. However, some current midfielders might be offloaded, such as Uruguay international Ugarte. At the season-end review meeting in May, Amorelin strongly criticized this player, who had previously worked with him at Sporting Lisbon, citing attitude problems and a decline from his form at Sporting.

Amorelin’s criticism is not just talk; it is reflected in this season’s squad selections. The 24-year-old Ugarte has started only twice in the Premier League this season, with his last start in September against Brentford. Turkish media report that Galatasaray is closely monitoring Ugarte’s situation at Manchester United.

According to Errol Evchen’s report, Galatasaray might attempt to sign Ugarte as early as January. Manchester United bought Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain last year for €60 million. Any deal would depend on the price and whether the club can find a suitable replacement.