Newcastle have initiated talks with Tottenham over the possible loan signing of midfielder Dele Alli, according to The Telegraph.
The Lowdown: Dele’s decline
At 22 years old, the midfielder was showing world-class potential, with his transfer market valuation highlighting his rapid rise to the top, having skyrocketed to an incredible £90million.
In the 2016/17 Premier League season, the Englishman scored an emphatic 18 goals, ranking him sixth in the entire league, grouped with the likes of Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku.
However, Alli’s career has seen a huge decline since he burst onto the scene after arriving as a youngster from MK Dons in 2015, with that valuation now sitting at just £22.5m.
In recent years, the midfielder’s game time at Spurs has continually decreased. This is illustrated by the stark contrast between his career-high 37 Premier League appearances during the 2016/17 campaign and his meagre 2020/21 total, when he amassed just 15 appearances, eight of which came off the bench.
There was a glimmer of hope surrounding manager Antonio Conte’s arrival and what it meant for the 25-year-old’s Tottenham career. However, the situation remains unchanged, and Alli’s two starts under the Italian has confirmed his position at the club.
The Latest: Newcastle open Alli loan talks
In December, The Telegraph reported that Tottenham had given the midfielder the green light to leave Hotspur Way in the January transfer window, sparking rumours with a number of English clubs over potential permanent and loan deals.
According to a fresh report by The Telegraph’s reliable Luke Edwards, Newcastle have opened talks with Tottenham over the possibility of signing Alli on a loan deal.
This succeeds strong rumours linking Manchester United player Jesse Lingard with the Magpies, but it remains to be seen whether the relegation-threatened side will sign both midfielders
Alli would be the second departure under Conte this month after Dilan Markanday joined Blackburn Rovers.
The Verdict: A good opportunity
A transfer to another top-flight club, whether English or further afield, would certainly help Alli in the pursuit of reviving his career, with the hope of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad surely a key motivation in the move.
The midfielder has never lacked technical ability, with Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos previously claiming that he is ‘undoubtedly good enough for Real Madrid’. The issue lies in the player’s hunger to succeed, facing criticism over his work ethic from former boss Jose Mourinho.
If Alli is given the ability to demonstrate a newfound determination elsewhere, then a reprised career in the Premier League would not be surprising in the least, and a move to Newcastle could be the perfect place to do it, with the Magpies themselves desperately in need of some creative spark.