Conor Gallagher admits he is 'not satisfied' at Atletico amid Man Utd interest

Conor Gallagher is considering his future at Atletico Madrid after interest from Manchester United.

United’s ongoing struggles in central midfield have prompted the club to assess new options in the transfer market and at the same time Gallagher wants a more prominent role than he is getting at the moment at Atletico.

Gallagher, an England international, was among United’s targets last summer, but a move didn’t materialize as Atletico were only open to a permanent transfer.

After leaving his boyhood club Chelsea for Atletico in the summer of 2024 in a £34 million deal, Gallagher featured in 50 games during his debut season in Spain, mostly coming on as a substitute rather than as a regular starter.

His limited starting opportunities have led to reports suggesting Gallagher is dissatisfied with his role at Atletico—fueling talk of United reigniting their interest as the January window approaches.

Atletico are thought to want £35m for Gallagher, who has started just two La Liga matches this season, while United prefer an initial loan deal.

Addressing his future in a recent interview with As, Gallagher said: “No, of course not. I'm not satisfied. Nobody is if they're not playing as much as they'd wish, but I’ll keep working hard to help the team when given the chance, and hopefully more opportunities to start will come.”

He added: “I'm really happy here. My aim is to win trophies with Atleti and secure a bigger role within the team. As I’ve mentioned, I’ll keep working to play more minutes and support the team as much as I can.”

Gallagher’s comments indicate there could be growing frustration if his status as a substitute continues, which might position United to benefit.

A loan until the end of the season would give manager Ruben Amorim the chance to deepen his midfield options and properly assess Gallagher for a possible permanent move next summer.

Nevertheless, United remain interested in additional midfielders for next summer: Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, both reportedly valued at around £100 million each, are seen as primary options for the club’s future midfield plans.