Three players Tottenham could sign to replace Dele Alli in the summer
COMMENT By Danny Wright
Delle Alli is reportedly on the radar of Manchester City who are looking to make a world-record bid in an attempt to steal the 20-year-old away from Tottenham.
The England international is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League at the moment and was awarded player of the month for January after scoring five goals in five games.
He has contributed to 18 goals in 32 appearances for Spurs in all competitions this season, so it is no wonder why one of the world’s richest clubs is interested in him.
Here, Football Insider takes a look at three players who could potentially move to White Hart Lane to fill the void if Alli were to leave.
Marek Hamsik
Experienced, with star appeal and no doubt talented – if Spurs wanted to put all their eggs in one basket it would have to be for this man.
Hamsik’s eye for a pass is something that will replace, if not improve on, what Alli already has to offer for the club.
The Slovakian will not come cheap however, but this signing would be a massive statement from Mauricio Pochettino, who would have to fork out a lot of cash for the Napoli star.
The 29-year-old has scored nine goals and contributed seven assists in 24 Serie A games this season, putting his club second in the league standings. At the beginning of February he scored a hat-trick in a 7-1 thrashing of Bologna.
Youri Tielemans
Anyone with any knowledge of rising talent in Europe will have heard of this Belgian wonderkid. The 19-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anderlecht for some time now.
Like Alli, this teenager had a productive January, scoring three times in three games for his club and despite his young age he has already picked up two international caps during Belgium’s ‘golden era’ of football.
With regular Champions League experience under his belt, Tielemens would certainly fill the boots left vacant by Alli.
He would definitely be a cheaper option, however with the money the Man City are likely to offer for Alli, Spurs may have their sights set on a more audacious move.
Adrien Silva
It’s a wonder why Silva is still in the Portuguese league and hasn’t moved to one of the elite European leagues yet.
The Sporting CP midfielder was a crucial part of Portugal’s Euro 2016 winning campaign and would be a ready replacement for Alli at the age of 27. He still has his best years ahead but would be fully developed and ready for the challenge of the Premier League and Champions League with Spurs.
Unlike Hamsik, Silva can also contribute defensively, something which Pochettino would need from a player who can replace Alli. His passing and shooting are also of the highest order but as previously mentioned, perhaps there is a reason as to why he is still playing in Portugal despite his experience.
In other Tottenham news, three things learned in the defeat to Liverpool.
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