In a recent report, The Telegraph has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli could be allowed to leave in January. It is understood that Spurs are willing to sanction the England international’s departure during the winter transfer window out of respect for his service over the past few years (via The Telegraph).
Alli’s Difficult Situation At North London This Season
Alli has lost his manager Jose Mourinho’s confidence and currently finds himself behind the likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Stephen Bergwijn and Heung-min Son in the Tottenham pecking order. Hence, it is logical for him to seek a move elsewhere in search of more playing minutes in the second half of this campaign.
The 24-year-old has been starved of first-team starts this season as he has only featured in nine matches for Spurs this term, netting two goals and bagging one assist in various competitions. Alli has not been consistent with his contributions on the field based on his average of 1.0 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the group stages of the UEFA Europa League this season. He has even been a bit careless with his ball-distribution after making only 77% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
What Are The English Playmaker’s Best Attributes?
Alli has got what it takes to be a match-winner for his side but those days have been few from him in recent seasons. The lack of game time under Mourinho’s management has really hurt his development at the English capital.
The 37-time England international can still be a decent player as he possesses the vision to unlock the opposition defence with a killer pass in the final third. He is a great dribbler with the ball and can retain possession in tight spaces as he has got wonderful close control and composure. Alli can even pack a lot of venom with his strikes at goal but needs to improve his productivity considerably if he intends to fulfil his true potential.
Is Mourinho Making The Right Call By Allowing Alli To Leave Next Month?
Recently, Mourinho has shown no indication that he wants to make Alli a regular starter in the Premier League. So it is only fair to the player to allow him to join a club on loan or permanently once the transfer window commences in January.
Spurs have got enough strength in depth in their midfield department to cope with the English sensation’s exit. If Mourinho believes that Alli can still become a world-class attacker, then he should consider sanctioning a short-term loan transfer before assessing his future once again at the end of this campaign. Otherwise, it will be better for all parties if Tottenham decide to cash in on him this winter and use the money generated from his potential sale to strengthen other areas of their squad.
