Tottenham are ready to rival Aston Villa in the race to sign Conor Gallagher this month, reports Football.London.

Spurs are keen to bolster in the middle of the park having since lost Rodrigo Bentancur for three months owing to a hamstring injury suffered in the 3-2 loss to Bournemouth last week.

With Pape Sarr on AFCON duty and Lucas Bergvall also absent due to injury, Spurs are short of central midfield options.

Gallagher struggling for minutes with Atletico

Gallagher moved to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea 18 months ago and enjoyed a fine debut campaign in Spain.

However, the England international has found playing time hard to come by this season having started just four league matches.

Villa are eager to sign Gallagher from Atletico, who would rather sell the midfielder than loan him out in January.

The Villans, who beat Spurs 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday evening, are hoping to bolster their midfield ranks as they maintain their surprise title push.

Unai Emery’s side sit third in the Premier League, just six points behind league leaders Arsenal, and are one of the favourites to win the Europa League this season.

Spurs prepared to rival Villa for Gallagher

Spurs, though, are long-term admirers of the 25-year-old having pushed to sign Gallagher when he left Chelsea for Atletico in 2024.

The north London side have endured a difficult start to the year having already lost Mohammed Kudus, Bentancur and Bergvall to injury, while Richarlison was forced off in the first half of Saturday’s FA Cup defeat with a suspected hamstring issue.

The result means Spurs have failed to win six of their last seven competitive outings, and three of their last 14, as pressure mounts on Thomas Frank.

Pressure mounting on Spurs boss Frank

Spurs were booed off at the break and again at full-time against Villa on Saturday as the north London side continues to struggle under the former Brentford boss.

Next up for Frank’s men is the welcome of their relegation-threatened rivals West Ham on Saturday afternoon.