Having been the recipient of vociferous praise from coach Jose Mourinho recently, it looked like Dele Alli was back to his best at Tottenham Hotspur. The Spurs attacker has been in and out of the team for much of the last two seasons, struggling to find the form that helped propel his team to the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final. However, one of the main reasons why he has dropped so far in terms of form comes from his style of play is in contrast to his coach. So much so that a January exit to join former coach Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain was seen as likely. That, though, never materialised – and Alli played extremely well for much of February, earning the trust of his coach once again.
However, many believe that the Englishman is back to square one’ after being left out of the starting line-up for the game against Burnley. In a 4-0 win for the side, too, perhaps their most fluent in 2021, it left Alli wondering if the space that he fought so hard to regain has simply just been taken up by another member of the squad. Despite a starring role in Europe recently, it was not enough to get a start on Sunday against Burnley – and it could be enough to see Alli finally give up trying to make it under Mourinho.
Where could Dele Alli go?
Spurs find themselves in an odd situation with Alli. Unlikely to sell to a domestic rival, where his market would be strongest, Alli might need to move abroad if he wishes to start again. Yet joining PSG, a team that is known for its superstar cast and its rather lopsided dressing room, might not be the ideal choice for a player who is clearly in brittle confidence. Moving elsewhere, though, would be a challenge given the fees involved and the wages demanded.
A move to Germany, like other younger English talent, could be a possibility. Teams such as Borussia Dortmund have long been linked with an attacking midfielder, and the Englishman could fit there comfortably. However, again, fees and wages make it a small list of teams who could realistically entice Alli to come to them and join their cause.
Does this mean that Spurs might need to accept a lower fee, or even a loan deal, if they wish to make all parties happy?
It is clear that Mourinho will never give Alli the starring role that he desires, and it is also clear that Spurs will not look to sell him on the cheap. This leaves both player and coach in a tight position, and a tough one to solve – whatever the solution, though, it won’t be one that benefits all parties involved. Someone is going to lose out here, and it is likely to be an exit for a player who was, at the peak of the Pochettino era, seen as the face of a Tottenham team that could potentially have won a title.
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