Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed an excellent summer transfer window.
They have secured some of Jose Mourinho’s top targets, including a double swoop on Real Madrid to sign Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon, and a deal to bring in Carlos Vinicius, a striker, from Benfica, to finally ease the burden on Harry Kane.
There haven’t been all that many outgoings, though.
While both Jan Vertonghen and Michel Vorm have departed on free transfers, Kyle Walker-Peters is the only player to earn Spurs a fee in this transfer window.
They have loaned players out, with Oliver Skipp moving to Norwich City temporarily and Troy Parrott linking up with Millwall, but there needs to be more movement between now and Monday’s transfer deadline if Mourinho is to bring balance to his squad.
It remains to be seen who will be sacrificed – both Danny Rose and Cameron Carter-Vickers are almost certain to leave as neither have a squad number at the club – but one name who could have moved on is perhaps a surprise: Dele Alli.
The England international has been linked with a move away after being used sparingly throughout the first few weeks of the 2020/21 campaign, and PSG are seemingly interested.
However, Sky Sports reports that Spurs have rejected a second bid from the French club to take Alli on loan.
Spurs are said to be adamant that Alli will not be departing in this transfer window and is set to stay and fight for his place under Mourinho.
He was not in the squad for Premier League games against Southampton and Newcastle, while he was also left out of the EFL Cup clash with Chelsea, though he did come on as a substitute, and score, in the 7-2 thumping of Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League qualifying round.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Alli needs to prove his worth at Tottenham.
Since bursting onto the scene at the club, one has to say that his form has dipped repeatedly.
Indeed, in 2016/17, it seemed as though a world-class talent was blossoming, as he scored 18 Premier League goals and laid on nine assists. Since then, though his stock has only diminished.
The 17/18 season brought nine league goals and 11 assists, 18/19 brought five goals and three assists and 19/20 brought eight goals and four assists.
This is not the trajectory of a star.
Mourinho knows this, and one has to hope that Alli knows it too. He is being challenged by Mourinho to prove his worth.
It is time for him to knuckle down and do just that.