Tottenham transfer targets: Conor Gallagher would be perfect partner for Yves Bissouma in midfield | OneFootball

With Euro 2024 over, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to reignite their attempts to sign Conor Gallagher.

The midfielder made five appearances in England’s run to the Euro 2024 final this summer, including one start. Gallagher’s Chelsea future has been a topic of conversation for the past year, and there is belief that they could allow their midfielder to go.

It’s understood Chelsea value Gallagher in the £40-50m region and are willing to sell in order to boost their PSR position. Aston Villa were also reportedly interested in Gallagher but are unlikely to take action as they push to complete a deal for Everton’s Amadou Onana, potentially clearing the path for Tottenham.

There are multiple areas Tottenham will look to strengthen this summer and one of them is surely central midfield. Yes, the Lilywhites already have Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall coming through the door, but both are only 18 years old and are surely more realistic options for the future.

At a more senior level, Postecoglou can currently call upon Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr, Yves Bissouma, Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. However, the latter two are being heavily linked with a move away from White Hart Lane, with Leeds understood to be pushing for Skipp and Hojbjerg courted by Galatasaray.

The departure of those two would leave Postecoglou short-handed, but Tottenham are already thought to be lining up a replacement in the form of Gallagher. He’d be the perfect replacement for Hojbjerg, and a fine partner for Bissouma.

Gallagher played 37 games for Chelsea in the Premier League last season, missing only one game through suspension. He also captained the Blues quite a lot with Reece James and Ben Chilwell both struggling due to injury.

Directly comparing Gallagher to Hojbjerg, who he would likely replace in the Tottenham midfielder, this would be an improvement. Although it is sometimes used as a stick with which to beat Gallagher, the Englishman is an energetic midfielder and a keen presser. He won 39 possessions in the attacking third last season, the second-most in the Premier League and 99 in the middle third.

Gallagher averaged 2.5 tackles per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, just edging ahead of Hojbjerg’s 2.3 per 90. Gallagher also bettered Hojbjerg for shots, chances created, passing accuracy, take-ons completed and fouls won.

However, in this direct comparison, Gallagher did trail Hojbjerg for interceptions at 1.3 per 90 to 1.4 and ball recoveries at 6.4 per 90 to 8.5. Hojbjerg also had a slightly better ground duel success rate at 50.83% to 50.68%.

But, Hojbjerg wasn’t the main midfield man for Tottenham when on the pitch, as Bissouma was the boss. The Malian had a very good season under Ange Postecoglou and could just be Tottenham’s most important midfield player.

Comparing Bissouma to Gallagher, Hjobjerg, Sarr and Bentancur, the former Brighton man comes out on top in a lot of central midfield metrics. Although Bissouma did have 66 possessions won in the middle third compared to Gallagher’s 99, the Malian averaged slightly more per 90 minutes at 2.85 to 2.84.

Bissouma had the best passing accuracy at 91.93% and made a whopping 3.5 tackles per 90 minutes, 1.0 more than Gallagher. Overall, his tackles per 90 minutes ranked just outside the top 10 in the Premier League. He also came out on top for take-ons completed, interceptions and ground duel success percentage.

Of course, Bissouma had the lowest chances created and shots, but that just because it wasn’t his role. A partnership alongside Gallagher may propel Tottenham up the table.