Tottenham Hotspur veteran center midfielder Conor Gallagher was not at all a popular player around N17 last season, as many fans felt he was gross overpay in the winter transfer market both in terms of the 10 million euro above value fee to Atletico Madrid and in the structure breaking wages spent on the former Chelsea and Crystal Palace player.
But after weeks of horrible football, Gallagher rebounded under Roberto De Zerbi, like so many others, and proved the Italian manager's faith in him by being one of the important leaders in the revival of Spurs to Premier League survival.
And again, Gallagher started the 2026/27 Premier League season in dire straits, struggling horrendously in that No. 10 role. But as De Zerbi adjusted his tactics and turned Gallagher into less of a James Maddison, traditional No. 10 and tailored the role more to Gallagher as a Bulldog, a pressing and defensive No. 10, Gallagher improved greatly. His two goals in all competitions are tied for the most at Tottenham Hotspur, and his intensity and effort off the ball, as well as his ability to progress off the dribble, have made up for his issues.
Conor Gallagher has a use to Tottenham
Conor Gallagher is no longer someone whom Tottenham fans want to see pushed out of the club in the winter transfer window, and, in fact, many are wondering why on earth Roberto De Zerbi did not trust one of his supposed favorites when it actually would have been preferred to have started him against Leeds United in the stead of James Maddison.
Because had Gallagher have started the game, Spurs may have actually gotten a result out of Elland Road. His intensity, pressing, and physicality would have been perfect against a gritty Leeds side that swarmed and suffocated Tottenham. He could have given Sandro Tonali a lot of help and relief, and then he would have allowed Mateus Fernandes to play in his better pivot role, which was the case in the two best performances of Spurs season the previous two weekends against Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Tottenham are learning that Gallagher is a key role player and the best option as the No. 10 instead of Maddison if the Leicester City grad can't play. Madders could not get a minute against Leeds, and had Spurs played Gallagher instead of a midfield trio of Archie Gray, Fernandes, and Tonali without a more balanced midfield structure, they may have at least drawn, if not won.
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