Aston Villa are exploring the potential to sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid.
There is interest in an initial loan with an option to buy.
Sources have indicated the future of Harvey Elliott could have a bearing on Villa's ability to strike a deal for Gallagher.
Villa will not meet the obligation to buy Elliott for £35m and are trying to find him a solution to play elsewhere.
Gallagher is of long-term interest to Villa but Atletico Madrid are not keen for him to go on loan unless there is a permanent aspect to the deal that is obligatory - and they want a fee that is close to what they paid for him.
He joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2024 for £38m, and is still only 25. He spent time on loan at Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace while signed for the Blues.
The midfielder made 50 appearances for Atletico in his first season, scoring four goals. He has played 27 times in the current campaign, and started in the Spanish Super Cup loss to Real Madrid in midweek.
Gallagher may also be considering his chances of an England call-up ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
