Spurs are lining up move to sign an “exceptional” £56m Gallagher upgrade

Tottenham Hotspur spent £34m to sign England international Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid to bolster Thomas Frank’s midfield options earlier this month.

Tottenham have picked up one point from the club’s first two Premier League matches since the move, a 2-1 loss to West Ham United and a 2-2 draw with Burnley. Both teams were in the relegation zone at the time of those matches.

Gallagher lost the ball 29 times over those two matches without scoring a goal or creating any “big chances” for his team, according to Sofascore, but he won 13 duels without possession against struggling teams.

Tottenham already have Joao Palinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, when fit, Archie Gray and Yves Bissouma to provide combative qualities in midfield, and the £34m signing does not address their lack of attacking firepower in the middle of the park.

Tottenham are looking to make a move for the Bundesliga star

However, the Lilywhites are said to be looking for a midfielder who can come in and offer something different to what Frank currently has.

According to journalist Mark Bruce, in his daily briefing, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs planning to sign Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha, but it remains to be seen whether the transfer will happen now or in the summer.

The reporter claims that Tottenham have been scouting the Germany international for some time and that he caught the eye in the match against them in the Champions League earlier this month.

He adds that Chelsea and Manchester United are among the other clubs interested in the former Manchester City academy talent, which means there is strong competition for his signature.

Bruce also reveals that the German giants are set to demand a fee of up to €65m (£56m) for the impressive midfielder, and that price, with little time remaining of the January window, suggests a summer move is more likely.

Why Nmecha would be a great upgrade for Gallagher

Whether that happens now or at the end of the season, Nmecha could arrive in north London as a major upgrade over Gallagher in midfield, despite the fact that Tottenham spent £34m just to bring him to the club.

As previously mentioned, the England star was a bit of a strange signing for the Lilywhites as he is similar in appearance to the group of players already in his position.

But Nmecha offers something different. According to Sofascore, the 25-year-old talent has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in all competitions since the start of the 2024/25 season, including three goals in seven Champions League matches this season.

The German dynamo is a complete central midfielder who can provide quality in all phases of play, as he has the ability to make an impact defensively, in transition, and at the top of the pitch.

In the Bundesliga this season, Nmecha has averaged one dribble per game with a success rate of 54%, according to Sofascore, showing that he feels comfortable driving the ball forward into midfield to make plays for his team, something Spurs fans have not seen enough of this season.

As you can see in the table above, Nmecha’s performance in the Bundesliga this season has been much better than Gallagher’s performance in LaLiga before his big money move to north London earlier this month.

The £56m star can influence games off the ball by winning duels at an efficient rate, but he can also dribble up the pitch in transition and provide goals and assists in the final third to decide games.

His former coach, Nuri Sahin, even described him as an “exceptional” player due to his ability to play as a number six, eight or ten in midfield, due to the wide range of qualities he possesses.

For this reason, Nmecha could represent a significant upgrade over Gallagher in midfield. He has more tools at his disposal to influence the game than the England international, and can provide more for Tottenham in matches with his all-round game.

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Therefore, the Lilywhites must do everything in their power to win the race to sign the Dortmund star, whether that is during the current transfer window or in the summer.