Newcastle United are reportedly leading the race to sign Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, also a target for Everton and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
According to Daily Mail, Newcastle United are believed to be the front-runners in the chase to sign Tottenham Hotspur outcast Dele Alli amid interest from Borussia Dortmund and Everton. The 25-year-old midfielder could be set for a change of scenery this month after failing to break into Antonio Conte’s side, and Spurs are open to offers.
The Englishman burst onto the scene as a teenager with then-League One club MK Dons before earning himself a move to Tottenham in 2015. Alli made a seamless transition to the Premier League, flourishing under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino and quickly establishing himself as a mainstay for club and country.
He had the world at his feet and a bright England future. However, Alli has endured quite a fall from grace since Pochettino’s departure, and things has only gotten worse under successors Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, and now Conte.
The 25-year-old has only made ten Premier League appearances this season and, it seems that Tottenham are looking to offload Alli to make room for new recruits. The out-of-favour midfielder has only featured in six of Conte’s 15 games in charge. The Italian manager made his intentions clear by axing Alli from his matchday squad to take on Chelsea recently.
Despite Alli’s recent struggles, the record of his 67 goals and 61 assists in 269 appearances is still very impressive, and there seems to be no shortage of suitors looking to offer him the opportunity to revive his career. A host of Premier League clubs, including Newcastle and Everton, are closely monitoring his situation, while Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have also expressed their interest in the English international.
Newcastle’s attempts to sign Jesse Lingard appear to have hit a wall, with Manchester United playing hardball over loan fee. The Magpies could turn their attention to their other target, Dele Alli, who operates in a similar position to Lingard.
Newcastle are heavily reliant on Allan Saint-Maximin for creativity and can make do with someone of Alli’s technical quality and ability to create quality opportunities in the final third. However, should the Magpies get relegated, it could further stain his footballing CV.
Everton have also emerged as a possible destination for the English midfielder. Creativity from midfield has been a major issue for the Toffees this season. Alli could be a perfect fit, and his versatility means he will also offer cover for wide areas. However, any potential move to Everton could hinge on their next managerial appointment.
Borussia Dortmund could also try to take the Englishman to Germany. Unlike Newcastle and Everton, Dortmund are in a much more stable situation, and a move away from the spotlight may do Alli’s confidence a world of good. Impressive performances in the Bundesliga would also give him a better chance to get back into Gareth Southgate’s England setup.
Apart from Newcastle, Everton and Dortmund, Brighton, Burnley and Paris Saint-Germain are also vying for the Tottenham outcast’s signatures. It remains to be seen where Dele Alli will be playing his football when the January transfer window ends, although Newcastle United appear to be in pole position.
