According to Fabrizio Romano, Dele Alli is desperate to leave Tottenham Hotspur amid reports linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The French giants, coached by former Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, will push again this week for the services of the playmaker, who is equally keen on moving to the French capital as soon as possible. However, the transfer could ultimately hinge on the decision of Jose Mourinho and chairman Daniel Levy.
Dele Alli’s Rapid Fall From Grace
Often regarded as one of the most gifted English players in the current generation, Dele Alli has endured a difficult spell at Tottenham over the past 18 months. Although he has found life difficult under Mourinho, his fall from grace truly began under Pochettino. At the start of last season, an unfortunate injury and lack of match fitness saw the player getting benched by the Argentine for the first few matches.
It paved the way for Giovani Lo Celso to make a huge impact at the club. The former Real Betis star eventually became one of the most important players under Mourinho last season. On the other hand, Alli ended up mustering under 1,900 minutes of league football, which was decent, given his lack of form.
However, the Englishman has had a miserable campaign this term, having managed only four Premier League appearances. Despite the departure of Christian Eriksen in last January, he has fallen behind the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Lo Celso and even Erik Lamela in the pecking order. As a result, the attacker has been restricted to just 74 minutes of league action.
Should Tottenham Sanction His Departure?
Dele Alli’s potential departure could be a beneficial move by Tottenham Hotspur for multiple reasons. The 24-year-old still has a contract until 2024, meaning the club could still fetch a sizable fee for his services. It could ultimately serve as a financial boost amid Coronavrius pandemic that has really affected the club’s finances over the past 10 months or so.
From a tactical perspective, Alli has, more or less, become an outcast in the current Tottenham side. The emergence of Ndombele, in particular, has seen the Lilywhites thrive when it comes to the number ten slot, with Lo Celso also being an option. In addition, Mourinho has the likes of Lamela and Son Heung-Min, both of who can operate in that position.
In that regard, Alli’s departure should create some much-needed space in the side, potentially paving an opportunity for youngsters like Harvey White and Alfie Devine to gain a more prominent place in the starting eleven. A move to PSG could be beneficial for the player as well, as he looks to revive his career by reuniting with Pochettino.
