‘Interest is genuine’: United could return for £33m Chelsea graduate in Jan after failed loan approach in summer

Manchester United still hold ‘genuine interest’ in Conor Gallagher ahead of the January transfer window.

In the final week of the summer window, the Red Devils submitted a loan offer for Gallagher , but saw it rejected by Atletico Madrid, as they were only willing to facilitate a permanent deal.

Both United and Crystal Palace offered Gallagher routes back to the Premier League in August. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The Cobham graduate joined Atletico in August 2024 in a deal worth £33 million . Chelsea fans opposed his transfer at the time, with reports suggesting the club only pushed for the agreement to generate pure profit and aid their PSR situation.

Nonetheless, Gallagher put pen to paper on a five-year deal in the Spanish capital , and has since played a sporadic role under Diego Simeone – particularly this season, whereby he’s only started twice in the opening eight La Liga matches.

Last term, he was given the nod 19 times and made a further 13 appearances off the bench. In the Champions League, where Atletico reached the last-16 before being knocked out by rivals Real Madrid, he started four of the side’s 10 matches played, being an unused substitute once.

Gallagher isn’t forced to see out the season in Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

With United expected to be on the market for a midfield addition in 2026, there’s a chance they could re-approach Atleti to gauge the feasibility of a deal materialising this time around.

From Gallagher’s point of view, he’ll be desperate to play as much as possible throughout the campaign in hopes he can make England’s World Cup 2026 squad. He hasn’t been called up to the national team setup since June 2025, meaning he has some work to do when it comes to impressing Thomas Tuchel.

Speaking on the prospect of United returning for the 25-year-old in two months’ time, Ben Jacobs told The United Stand: “I expect Manchester United not to panic buy, but there will be names that, out of opportunity, out of a lack of gametime, out of unhappiness or just at the right price, could be available in January.

“So Jobe Bellingham, Conor Gallagher could be another. The challenge with Conor Gallagher, Manchester United’s interest is genuine, and Gallagher may want to go somewhere and return to England and really boost his chances of getting in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.”