Gabby Agbonlahor sends gleeful two-word message as Aston Villa on brink of game-changing transfer
Unai Emery has been patiently waiting for a major transfer breakthrough this month.
After what has been a superb opening half of the season, Aston Villa were predicted to be active in the market this month in order to keep pace in the Premier League title race.
However, as of yet, it’s been a relatively slow winter window, with Alysson signing for Villa on New Year’s Day and the arrival of 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo confirmed on Monday.
Neither of those two signings have truly gotten Villa fans’ pulses racing, with both players evidently being club signings with the future in mind, rather than the here and know.
Gabby Agbonlahor delighted with Conor Gallagher update
But, that could all be about to change, as despite Aston Villa continuing to be linked with Lucas Paqueta, it’s a different midfielder that is set to put pen to paper on a move to Villa Park.
As reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano via X on Monday, Aston Villa are “on the verge” of agreeing a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign Conor Gallagher.
Negotiations between the two sides are said to be almost done, with Romano claiming the framework of the deal will be an initial loan move with an obligation to buy the 25-year-old.
Gallagher is a household name across European football, and former Villa player and pundit as well as fan of the club Gabby Agbonlahor couldn’t hide his feelings about the imminent signing of the England international.
Replying to Romano’s post, Agbonlahor gave a two-word response, saying: “Top player”
Why Aston Villa could be getting fired up version of Gallagher
Unai Emery is currently running short of central midfield options, and his headache will only have been made worse following Boubacar Kamara’s injury against Tottenham on Saturday.
- Gallagher left Chelsea in the summer of 2024 having made 95 appearances for the Blues
- He’s started just four La Liga games for Atletico this season
- He’s been capped by England 22 times at senior level
Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana remain sidelined through injury too, meaning that it’s currently just John McGinn, Lamare Bogarde, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Elliott as Emery’s options in the middle of the park.
Therefore, should Villa quickly wrap up a deal for Gallagher over the coming hours, then he will have a huge opportunity to cement a starting role from the get-go.
With the 2026 World Cup no doubt in his thinking, too, Villa could be getting a fired up and determined version of Gallagher, who despite proving himself to be a top player in the Premier League with Chelsea, has struggled in Spain since moving to Madrid.
If he can replicate the form he showed with Chelsea in his pomp, this could be a game-changing transfer for the Villans.
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