Julian Alvarez
January 2026
Arsenal have reportedly made informal enquiries about signing Alvarez, less than a year after a major striker spend, with Berta using Atletico relationships to gauge feasibility. The report frames the move as expensive due to Alvarez’s long contract and huge release clause, with Atletico expected to demand a fee above €100m, while Barcelona interest and financial constraints could shape the race.
Joao Gomes
January 2026
Atletico and United are both linked with Gomes, with Atletico seeking a replacement after Gallagher’s reported move to Tottenham, and United monitoring midfield options. Reports claim Atletico have moved quickly, but Gomes has expressed commitment to helping Wolves avoid relegation and has indicated he prefers staying in England, which could aid United if a deal develops.
Conor Gallagher
January 2026
Tottenham are reportedly positioned to hijack Aston Villa’s move for Gallagher, who may return to the Premier League after limited starts at Atletico this season. Despite strong first-season adaptation and Simeone praise, Gallagher’s reduced role has opened the door; Spurs and Villa both want midfield depth and could act quickly if Atletico entertain offers.
Conor Gallagher
January 2026
Villa are considering a January approach for Gallagher, who has struggled for consistent starts at Atletico this season. The idea is a loan with an obligation to buy. Atletico are said to value him around £35m, and Villa would face competition from Manchester United and Tottenham, who are also monitoring midfield options.
Vinicius Jr
January 2026
Vinicius and Simeone exchanged words on the touchline when the Real forward was substituted during Madrid’s Super Cup semi-final win over Atletico in Saudi Arabia. TV audio captured Simeone taunting Vinicius about Florentino Perez. Simeone later downplayed it, saying what happens on the pitch stays there while stressing respect for Madrid players.
Conor Gallagher
December 2025
Conor Gallagher is being framed as a realistic January option for Manchester United, but only on a permanent transfer with Atletico Madrid expected to demand around £35 million. United are weighing multiple routes to reshape the midfield core. United previously explored late-summer midfield moves and are now re-checking targets amid availability constraints elsewhere. The Gallagher angle is defined by Atletico’s preference for a full sale rather than a loan, pushing United to compare cost versus other profiles.
Ruben Amorim
December 2025
Ruben Amorim has restated that Manchester United will only act in January for players they are certain want to join, warning against repeating past mistakes as the club weigh defensive midfield targets and react to missing out on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. After walking away from Brighton’s £100m price for Carlos Baleba, United now track Ruben Neves, Conor Gallagher and Tyler Adams while monitoring other positions, but Amorim stresses they will not rush into panic deals and will prioritise long term fit, commitment and character over short term fixes.