Manchester United have been urged to consider a move for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher to beef up their options in central midfield.
The Red Devils’ early transfer activity has focused on improving their attacking output after a dismal season last time out under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
Matheus Cunha has already arrived from Wolves, while United are now close to signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
A move for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson could also be in the works after United held talks with the striker’s representatives.
But United are looking to make signings, elsewhere, and will no doubt need further cover in central midfield following the departure of Christian Eriksen at the start of the summer.
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And former United midfielder Gordon Strachan reckons Ruben Amorim’s side would benefit from Gallagher’s talents to provide some much-needed energy in the middle of the park.
‘Man Utd don’t need a bit more bite, they need legs, real legs, real closing down,’ he told OLBG.
‘Can Conor Gallagher do that? Yes he can, he’s definitely got legs, he’s a good team mate.
‘Has he got enough imagination? I don’t know, but if you have people like that with legs in there and have imagination around them, then he’d be a good signing.
‘The days of the luxury player, if you want to be a top side, are gone. So, Conor Gallagher has definitely got the legs.
‘He’s got the robustness. Has he got goals? Has he got that flair? These players are hard to come by.
‘Would I take him compared to some of the players that I’ve played over the last couple of years at Man Utd? Yes, I would.”
Gallagher enjoyed an impressive maiden season at Atletico after joining from Chelsea, but could find his future in a state of limbo after the signing of Thiago Almada from Botafogo.
Almada’s arrival means Diego Simeone’s side now has four non-EU players, which exceeds the threshold of three allowed within a La Liga squad.
Samuel Lino and Nahuel Molina are the other two non-EU players at Atletico, with Spanish outlet COPE reporting that one non-EU player is now expected to leave this summer.
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