Tottenham Hotspur have been forced into urgent action in the January transfer window, securing a deal for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher. The move comes as a direct response to a sudden and severe shortage of options in the centre of the park for manager Thomas Frank.
A Midfield Crisis Forces Spurs' Hand
The need for reinforcements became critical in a matter of days. First, Pape Sarr departed for the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. Then, Lucas Bergvall picked up a muscle injury during the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth. The situation worsened when Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a hamstring injury in the same match, ruling him out for approximately three months.
This rapid succession of absences left Frank with just two senior, fit central midfielders: Joao Palhinha and the 19-year-old Archie Gray. The confirmation of Bentancur's long-term issue prompted the club's reactive move for a long-term target, seeing off competition from Aston Villa to land the 25-year-old England international.
Gallagher's Strengths and the Glaring Omission
Conor Gallagher brings valuable Premier League experience and a renowned, energetic playing style to North London. His high-pressing and tenacious defensive work will be a welcome addition, particularly after Aston Villa's midfield easily bypassed Spurs to score in a recent 2-1 FA Cup defeat.
However, his signing does not address what has been described as the 'elephant in the room' for this Tottenham side: a chronic lack of creative progression from deep midfield. Statistically, Spurs have attempted the fewest through balls (11) in the Premier League this season, a key indicator of their struggle to advance play through the centre.
This deficiency directly impacts their attack. The team is failing to consistently supply forwards like Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani, and Mathys Tel, resulting in a low shot count (10.2 per 90) and a concerning overperformance of their Expected Goals (xG) tally of 23.87 for the 2025/26 campaign.
A Step Forward, But Not the Final Solution
While Gallagher has creative qualities—he registered seven assists and created 11 big chances in his final season at Chelsea—his primary role is not that of a deep-lying playmaker. Spurs are reportedly still seeking such a profile, with names like Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney and Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia linked.
The acquisition of Gallagher is a pragmatic and necessary step to add quality and depth during an injury crisis. It immediately strengthens the squad. Yet, for a club that was title-chasing a decade ago while Aston Villa were being relegated, it highlights a reactive transfer policy. The question remains: would this deal have happened without Bentancur's injury?
Ultimately, Gallagher's arrival must be the start of Tottenham's mid-season rebuild, not the conclusion. Failure to subsequently address the core creative issue could make for a very difficult second half of the season for Thomas Frank and his team.
