Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United lead the January race to sign Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher, according to TEAMtalk.
Spurs and United are both looking to bolster their midfield this month and see the England international as a strong and attainable target.
Gallagher only joined Atletico Madrid in a £35m deal from Chelsea 18 months ago but his future with the LaLiga giants is in doubt with his minutes limited under Diego Simeone this term.
It means a return to the Premier League could be on the cards at the start of 2026 with no shortage of interest from top-flight clubs.
Conor Gallagher Wants Premier League Return
According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham and Manchester United are in pole position to bring the 25-year-old back to English shores this month, and Atletico are willing to sell the Englishman for the right price.
Thomas Frank sees Gallagher as the ideal addition to his Spurs midfield, with the north Londoners being long-term admirers of the Epsom-born star, even when he was with rivals Chelsea.
Gallagher is said to be enthusiastic about a switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, given his London roots and the fact he would be able to play Champions League football with them this term.
Spurs might not have everything their own way in their bid to land Gallagher though, with Ruben Amorim's Red Devils also frontrunners to land him before the February 2 deadline.
There are other Premier League suitors too in Newcastle United - who can offer top-level European football - as well as Everton and West Ham United, with the latter looking to shake up their squad to stave off relegation to the Championship.
Gallagher's priority is to play regularly to force his way back into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the North American World Cup this summer, which could play a key part in any negotiations.
Gallagher is Ideal Mid-Season Tottenham Signing
The January transfer window is notoriously difficult to find the right players on the right deal, but Gallagher is a rare good opportunity for Spurs.
As mentioned, he's not a new target for the north London club as they have been tracking him for years, so it would be far from a mid-season panic buy.
Tottenham have felt for many years that the £200,000-a-week star can add something for them in the middle of the park, and now they may have the ideal opportunity to finally land him.
Spurs have sometimes struggled in that area of the pitch this season, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha's partnership there criticised at points during the current campaign.
The positive of bringing Gallagher in is that Spurs and Frank know that not only are they getting a proven Premier League player who offers high work rate, leadership and a goal threat from midfield, but he is also going to be highly motivated and ready to go that extra mile in every game to catch Tuchel's attention.
What Else is Happening at Tottenham in January?
The major story at the start of January has been around the future of Brennan Johnson, who looks to be on course to join Crystal Palace - it could even happen before the weekend.