Manchester United will overhaul the midfield in 2026, with January being eyed for an addition and Conor Gallagher emerging as a target.
It will be priority number one for Manchester United in 2026 to sign a long-term midfield solution, and already, options are being compiled.
Manchester United have been linked with Elliot Anderson, along with Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton. However, Ineos are aiming for a January addition, and United won’t be able to sign a top target, which could open the door for Conor Gallagher.
While not being a player fans will be overjoyed by, Gallagher is probably the most likely January option, as Ben Jacobs has now claimed.
“If Athleti open the door to a loan formula for Conor Gallagher mid-season, I think that’s a deal Manchester United would do!”
However, this would be a mistake.
Signing Conor Gallagher would be a mistake for Manchester United
The idea of signing Gallagher on loan seems harmless; however, it is a move that Ineos must avoid in January because it solves none of the problems currently at the club.
To start, Gallagher currently earns a whopping £200,000-a-week at Atletico Madrid, which is far too much for United to pay for a player with no clear role under Ruben Amorim.
Gallagher has been surplus to requirements at Madrid, failing to impress, which raises the question of why United would want to take him, with a loan likely to be expensive and also have buy-options suggested by the Spanish side.
In terms of his suitability to United, Gallagher is not a defensive midfielder, nor also not a 10, meaning he would be yet another unnatural fit for Amorim, who might be more inclined to stick with what he has.
United have long been linked with Gallagher; however, a move simply doesn’t make sense outside of the fact that he’s a midfielder, and so Ineos must steer clear.
How Conor Gallagher compares with Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson
Manchester United’s hunt for a new midfielder will see countless options considered; however, the traits needed are already defined.
United needs an athletic midfielder who can cover ground while also being good enough to get on the ball and influence proceedings.
Gallagher ticks these boxes; however, the more physical side of the game, winning the ball back, and in terms of his side, he just doesn’t stack up.
Conor Gallagher vs Adam Wharton vs Carlos Baleba vs Elliot Anderson league only 2025/26 per 90
| Stat per 90 | Anderson | Baleba | Gallagher | Wharton |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0.33 | 0 |
| Shots | 1.13 | 1.06 | 1.32 | 0.66 |
| Assists | 0.13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pass accuracy | 88.5% | 83.5% | 91.1% | 79.7% |
| Long ball accuracy | 52.6% | 57.9% | 50% | 34.5% |
| Chances created | 1.25 | 0.42 | 0.66 | 2.15 |
| Dribble success | 52.4% | 66.7% | 22.2% | 66.7% |
| Touches | 101 | 48.59% | 71.14 | 50.7 |
| Tackles | 1.75 | 1.69 | 1.99 | 1.32 |
| Duels won | 7.75 | 5.70 | 3.97 | 3.63 |
| Interceptions | 0.88 | 1.9 | 2.32 | 0.99 |
| Recoveries | 8 | 5.49 | 5.63 | 5.28 |
Right now, Elliot Anderson is the clear frontrunner, outperforming all three in the worst team.
A midfield pairing of Anderson and Kobbie Mainoo would be absolutely brilliant and potentially set United up for a decade.
Gallagher hasn’t got a place in this plan, even on an expensive loan which would see him struggle to start games anyway.
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