Football.London: Pochettino's first signing for Man Utd should be Gallagher

According to reports from Football.London, Mauricio Pochettino's first signing, should he take over as Manchester United manager, should be to raid Tottenham Hotspur for his former Chelsea player, Gallagher.

The coach, who appears poised to replace Carrick as manager of Man Utd, had a brief but successful collaboration with Gallagher at Chelsea, helping him become one of the few Cobham academy graduates to captain the first team.

Gallagher made 50 appearances for the Blues under Pochettino, scoring 7 goals and providing 9 assists. In the 2023/24 season, he played in various midfield positions, including as a No. 6, No. 8, and No. 10.

Currently, Gallagher has made little impact in North London. With Roberto De Zerbi aiming to control games through prolonged possession, the English star might face issues with insufficient playing time.

Gallagher is already struggling to break into the starting XI under the Italian coach, with only 3 starts in 10 Premier League games and less than 400 minutes across all competitions.

Football.London suggests that if Manchester United confirms Pochettino, the Englishman should be his first signing. Gallagher is not only familiar with the Argentine's philosophy and can seamlessly implement his ideas on the pitch, but he can also inject much-needed mobility into the midfield.

The Red Devils' midfield does not lack technical ability, but they often struggle with running and physical duels. As one of the best off-the-ball players in the country, Gallagher possesses the ability to cover large areas, drive pressing, and win duels. He can lead by example both on and off the field, bringing a long-overdue boost to Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur would not suffer from this, as Roberto De Zerbi has several other midfielders at his disposal. Johan Lange also needs funds to support the acquisition of a new striker.