Ten-time Champions League winners Real Madrid are thought to be in pole position to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s enigmatic young midfielder Dele Alli this summer.
The 20-year-old Dele Alli, who hailed from Milton Keynes, broke into the Spurs first team last season and made an instant impact, scoring ten goals in 46 appearances for the North London giants.
This season, Alli’s phenomenal performances on the pitch further catapulted his stock in the footballing world. Indeed, he has already scored 12 goals and notched five assists in 28 matches for Spurs so far, with a third of the season still left to play.
Such scintillating talent has caught the attention of a swathe of clubs across Europe, from Bayern to Paris Saint-Germain, all willing to pay top money for the young midfield general.
But none of them are as eager as La Liga giants Real Madrid. According to the Sunday Express, Los Blancos are prepared to outbid every club gunning for Dele Alli’s signature in the summer, their price set to be at the £50m mark.
For all that cash, Spurs would be foolish to sell Dele Alli to Real Madrid, and here are three reasons why.
Dele Alli is the best English Midfielder so far
Ever since the Premier League have set the rules for clubs to have a minimum of eight home-grown players in their squads, the premium for English players has skyrocketed. A case in point is Fabian Delph, bought by Manchester City for £8m two seasons ago. And yet, for all that money, Delph has played in no more than four matches this season.
Spurs not only have a home-grown talent in Dele Alli that can meet Premier League requirements, they also have one of the best English midfielders right now. Imagine if Manchester United had sold Paul Scholes during his prime – it would’ve been catastrophic for the Old Trafford giants. Selling Dele Alli would have similarly grim consequences.
Spurs don’t have a replacement for Alli
Apart from Alli, Spurs don’t have much players who can play in midfield. Should the England international leave, Spurs will be left with Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko, both of whom, while solid players in their own rights, don’t have the same flair and finesse in attack that Alli possesses.
Alli’s absence will be a vacuum too big to fill for Spurs in a short amount of time and they will struggle should they let the 20-year-old leave.
Spurs need to prove to the world they can keep their best players
When Spurs sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in 2013, many believed Spurs didn’t have what it takes to keep their best players. In line with that, many believed Spurs simply didn’t have the pedigree to be a real world-class club.
Now the North London side are in that crossroads yet again. They should take care not to repeat the mistakes of the past.