Tottenham Hotspur made a huge transfer splash in the Premier League market on Monday, bringing former Chelsea (and Crystal Palace) man Conor Gallagher back to England, spending 40 million euros to swoop in and steal the veteran center midfielder right from under the noses of rivals Aston Villa.
Gallagher is a bit of a controversial signing, but it seems like most Tottenham fans are looking forward to the 25 year old returning to the Premier League. Not only would Gallagher being a success rub some salt in the wounds of Chelsea fans, but Spurs supporters are also just happy to be bringing in a competent warm body who has leadership chops and a demonstrated desire to fight for the crest on his shirt.
The Gallagher transfer comes just days after Tottenham learned that the injury to another veteran center midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur, was more severe than expected. Benta went down with a hamstring injury against AFC Bournemouth, and, as it turns out, he actually tore his hamstring and will need surgery that will cost him at least three months of action - and maybe even the World Cup.
Rodrigo Bentancur is headed for the transfer list
But Bentancur has to be more worried than he may even think at this point. He is an expendable player to Spurs, regardless of the rather faulty contract extension he prematurely received to start the 2025/26 Premier League season. He has already been displaced by the much more promising Archie Gray in that deep lying playmaker role, and because Gallagher is more of a No. 8 than a No. 6, Spurs could always still sign another midfielder in 2026, too.
So Gallagher is not a short term replacement for Bentancur. He is another body in the middle of the park to help Spurs stay afloat in the Premier League, and Spurs definitely pushed harder for him in the aftermath of losing an established veteran rotational player in the middle of the pitch.