Conor Gallagher has saved himself from a winter transfer
Conor Gallagher may not have a long term future at Tottenham Hotspur once the revolution is complete under Roberto De Zerbi, but after a very rough start to the season, especially when he was forced to be the main No. 10 option after James Maddison's return was stymied by a dislocated shoulder on Matchday 1, Spurs fans are beginning to see more of the reasons why De Zerbi loves Gallagher so much.
Although Gallagher joined as a Thomas Frank signing in the winter transfer window last season and was a classic case of overpay for a known English player, he ended up being key to Spur surviving Premier League relegation under De Zerbi.
Lately, the British Bulldog in Gallagher has come out, and fans are loving what Gallagher is bringing to the table in more of a rotational role. He is a modern defensive 10, making up for his lack of creativity and technical quality with sheer effort. Gallagher presses teams into mistakes and can playmake up the pitch in that way, which does fit the style of football Roberto De Zerbi wants to play that is more aggressive and suffocating to opponents.
Conor Gallagher is still beneficial to Tottenham
Maybe Conor Gallagher does not last at Tottenham Hotspur beyond the 2026/27 Premier League season, but the grit he has brought and the ability to offer something different to the likes of James Maddison (and later Xavi Simons) in the attacking midfield is worth holding onto as Spurs make a charge towards the top five of the Premier League and a return to the Champions League in 2027/28.
Spurs could get some money out of selling Gallagher this winter, but they already have enough money to sign a forward and other players they can sell or get wages off the books, such as Richarlison. It's unlikely they are going to find someone better than Gallagher, and he isn't currently taking a spot away from someone. If anything, Spurs need the depth, as the current injuries already indicate to the club.
Gallagher has gone from someone Spurs fans actively wanted out of the club and viewed as an albatross with his contract and lack of quality to someone they appreciate in the right role. Losing him in the short term would hurt the team, and while his long term prospects vary in stark contrast to the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali, he doesn't need to be those guys to help the team in his own way.
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