Only weeks ago Gallagher looked like a candidate to leave Tottenham in the winter window. That outlook has now flipped, with the manager who has barely started him the one determined to keep him.
Football Insider’s transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke reports that De Zerbi “views Conor Gallagher as a valuable asset and will not allow him to leave Tottenham”. The 26-year-old is said to be part of the club’s long-term plans, with Spurs under no pressure to cash in.
The three clubs told no
Crystal Palace, where Gallagher had a formative loan spell earlier in his career, have been keeping tabs on a reunion. Leeds United and Everton, working with a thin senior squad, are the other two Premier League suitors.
All three have been told, in effect, that the player is not for sale. Everton’s position is further complicated by uncertainty around the Friedkin Group’s intentions, which is expected to limit the club’s January business.
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The paradox of three starts
Gallagher’s playing time is what makes De Zerbi’s stance unusual. He has made just three Premier League starts for Tottenham this season. Yet the Italian values his versatility and his intensity in closing out matches, and sees him as a squad player the team cannot do without through a packed winter.
The signing itself removes financial pressure. Gallagher joined from Atletico Madrid in January 2026 for a reported £34m on a long-term deal, so Spurs face no urgency to sell.
From “ready to sell” to “won’t let him go”
The reversal matters because the earlier framing had been different. Reports in recent weeks had suggested Spurs would at least listen to offers for the England midfielder, with Palace and Leeds specifically linked. De Zerbi’s intervention, as described by Football Insider, has shut that down.
Tottenham return to Premier League action after the November international break.
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