PL rivals sanction move for Tottenham 20-year-old, eyeing summer swoop – report
By Danny Wright
Tottenham are bracing themselves for a world-record bid from Manchester City as Pep Guardiola looks to make Dele Alli part of his big-money line-up, according to a report.
According to the Express, City could face tough competition for the Tottenham star from Real Madrid. The Dail Mail had previously reported that both Real Madrid and Paris St. Germain have been watching Alli’s performances over the past 12 months.
The Man City board has given Guardiola the green light to pursue the 20-year-old who signed a new six-year deal at White Hart Lane in September 2016.
It is understood that if the Citizens were to go in for Alli, they would have to pay more than the £89million spent by city-rivals Manchester United on Paul Pogba in the summer, as Maurcio Pochettino would be unwilling to let arguably his biggest talent at the club leave.
Tottenham signed Alli from MK Dons for £5million in 2015 and he has since gone on to become one of the country’s biggest young talents.
Alli was named the Premier League player of the month for January after scoring five goals in five games, taking his tally for this season to 13 in all competitions.
The England international has 15 caps to his name since making his debut for the national team in 2015. He also has two goals to his name for the Three Lions.
Football Insider verdict:
Alli is probably one of the most exciting talents in English football right now and it was inevitable that he would start to be linked with some of the world’s biggest clubs. Pochettino and the club’s fans will be desperate to keep him as he’s a huge part of their long-term ambition to win a league title. However, any player has a price and if Man City are determined to have their man and break the world transfer fee, Tottenham might have to concede defeat.
A lot will depend on Alli himself. If he’s fully committed to his future under Pochettino then it will be much harder to force the transfer through. And he’d be well advised to exert caution. He’s still very young and is already on his way to becoming a White Hart Lane legend. A move to the Etihad may not be wise for him at this stage in his career.
In other Tottenham news, fans react to Victor Wanyama display against Liverpool.
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