Tottenham Hotspur spent £34m earlier this month to sign England international Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid to strengthen Thomas Frank’s midfield options.
He started the first two Premier League games for Spurs following his move, losing 2-1 to West Ham United and drawing 2-2 with Burnley, earning them a point. At the time of these matches both teams were in the relegation zone.
According to Sofascore, Gallagher lost possession 29 times in those two games, unable to score or create any “big chances” for his team, but won 13 possession duels against these two strugglers.
However, the £34m deal does not address the lack of attacking thrust in the middle of the park, with Spurs already offering combative qualities in midfield with Joao Parinha and, when fit, Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray and Yves Bissouma.
Spurs eyeing Bundesliga star signing
However, the Lilywhites are reportedly looking for a central midfielder who can offer something different to what Frank currently has at his disposal.
Journalist Mark Bulls says in the Daily Briefing that Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs preparing to sign Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmeka, but it remains to be seen whether the move will happen now or in the summer.
The reporter claims that Spurs have been scouting the German international for some time and that he caught the eye of Spurs during their Champions League match against Spurs earlier this month.
He added that Chelsea and Manchester United are also among other clubs interested in the former Manchester City academy talent, meaning there is stiff competition for his signature.
Brus also revealed that the German giants are expected to demand a transfer fee of up to €65m (about £56m) for the impressive central midfielder, with only a few days left in the January transfer window suggesting this figure is likely to be a summer move.
Why Nmecha is a huge upgrade for Gallagher
Whether it happens now or at the end of the season, Nmeka could arrive in north London as a significant upgrade to Gallagher in the middle of the park, despite the fact that Spurs only spent £34 million to bring him to the club.
As mentioned above, the England star was a bit of an odd signing for the Lilywhites as he has a similar profile to the players already in his position.
But Nmecha offers something different. According to Sofascore, the talented 25-year-old 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 games this season.
The German dynamo is a well-rounded central midfielder who can provide quality at all stages of play, with his ability to make an impact defensively, in transition and at the top end of the pitch.
In the Bundesliga this season, Nmeka has averaged 54% of his dribbles per game, according to Sofascore. This shows he is comfortable carrying the ball forward in midfield to drive the team’s play forward, something Spurs supporters have not seen enough of this season.
25/26 season | Final (Bundesliga) | Gallagher (La Liga) |
|---|---|---|
Appearance | 19 | 19 |
the goal | 2 | 2 |
assist | 3 | 0 |
dribbling success | 19 | 4 |
dribbling success rate | 54% | 19% |
Duels won per match | 3.8 | 2.0 |
Ground duel success rate | 53% | 38% |
Statistics by Sofascore | ||
As you can see from the table above, Nmeka’s performances in the Bundesliga this season are significantly better than what Gallagher produced in La Liga before his big-money move to North London earlier this month.
The £56m-rated star can influence the game out of possession by winning duels efficiently, but he can also decide games by dribbling up the pitch in transition and providing goals and assists in the final third.
His former head coach Nuri Şahin even described him as an “exceptional” player due to his wide range of qualities and ability to play as a number six, eight or ten in midfield.
As such, Nmecha could be a huge upgrade for Gallagher in midfield. He has more tools at his disposal to influence games than the England international and could offer Spurs even more in the game with his all-round play.
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The Lilywhites should therefore do everything in their power to win the race to sign the Dortmund star, whether this season or in the summer.
