LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur is substituted on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on December 13, 2020 in London, England. A limited number of spectators (2000) are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle have been tipped to sign Spurs outcast Dele Alli in January. The midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Mourinho’s new look Spurs side this season.
Steve Bruce could be looking to add some creativity and has set his sights on a loan deal for Alli. However, it remains to be seen if Spurs agree to a loan deal.
The 24-year-old English midfielder started his youth career at City Colts and moved to MK Dons in 2007. Climbing through the youth ranks, he made his first-team breakthrough in 2013. He went on to make 88 appearances for the club, registering 24 goals and 15 assists.
In January 2015, Spurs signed him up but allowed him to return to MK Dons for the remainder of the season, back on loan. In August 2015, he made his debut for Spurs against Manchester United. Since then, Alli has gone from strength to strength. He was named the PFA Young Player of the Year in consecutive years, 2016 and 2017.
So far, Alli has featured in 232 games for Spurs, scored 64 times and assisted another 56. (h/t Transfermarkt). He has also been a prominent part of the England national team, with 37 appearances and 3 goals to date. These days though, he finds himself out of contention for the national side.
While Newcastle may not exactly be short-staffed in midfield, they are short on quality though. Apart from Jonjo Shelvey, there is not much of a goal threat from any of the midfielders. The problem though is that Shelvey can drop a worldie one game and a stinker in the very next.
This is exactly why a midfielder in the ilk of Dele Alli can boost the team to greater heights. Alli’s addition can bolster Steve Bruce’s midfield by adding to the numbers and quality.
The Englishman may have fallen out of favour at Spurs but there is no doubting his qualities. Not so long ago, he was one of the best midfielders in the league right at the heart of Spurs’ meteoric rise under Mauricio Pochettino.
It’s been a sharp fall from grace for Alli, who was once regarded as a rising star in the league. Somehow, he currently finds himself on the fringes of Mourinho’s high flying team with just 338 minutes of action from 9 games. It would be in his best interests to go for a spell away from Spurs and rediscover some of his old form. Newcastle might just be the place to do that.