Tottenham officially confirmed the signing of England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid in a £34m deal, with the 25-year-old penning a five-and-a-half-year contract running until 2031.
The north Londoners moved swiftly to secure Gallagher's signature after Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out for the majority of the season with a hamstring injury (Sky Sports).
Spurs hijacked Aston Villa's pursuit of the midfielder, with Villa having wanted an initial loan with an option to buy, while Atletico prioritised a permanent sale (Football Today).
Gallagher flew into London on Tuesday to undergo his medical before the deal was announced on Wednesday evening. The midfielder also expressed his sheer delight at the move, despite his Chelsea connections.
Manager Thomas Frank hailed the signing, describing Gallagher as "a top midfielder" who brings "huge experience across the Premier League, La Liga and with the England national team" (Tottenham Hotspur).
The former Chelsea star made 136 Premier League appearances across spells with West Brom, Crystal Palace and the Blues before his £38m move to Atletico in August 2024.
Gallagher had become a rotational player at Atletico this season, making just 4 La Liga starts despite 50 appearances during his first campaign in Spain.
His return to England dramatically boosts his chances of earning a spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup, which is less than five months away.
With Gallagher now done and dusted, you'd think attention would turn towards solving their glaring need for a new forward, and there have been links to many.
However, TEAMtalk journalist Dean Jones has actually reported that Spurs may not be done bolstering their midfield this year.
Tottenham set sights on 'dream' signing Adam Wharton
Indeed, it is believed that Tottenham are still eyeing an ambitious move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, in a move that would deal a significant blow to Man United's summer plans.
Spurs have made initial enquiries into signing the 22-year-old England international, who has emerged as a "dream" target.
The club are now determining whether pursuing Wharton is a realistic proposition given the fierce competition expected for his signature.
TT suggest that Tottenham are willing to spare no expesce on both transfer fees and wages if they decide to press ahead with the deal.
The move would directly impact United, who have identified Wharton alongside Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson as their three priority midfield targets for revamping their engine room later this year.
The major question facing Tottenham chiefs is whether they can actually win the race for Wharton's services, particularly with multiple elite clubs circling. Liverpool and Real Madrid have been credited with interest, making any potential deal highly competitive.
Wharton has impressed since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most promising young midfielders.
His ability to dictate tempo from deep positions aligns perfectly with what Frank wants to build at Tottenham following the signing of more box-to-box midfielder Gallagher.