Jermaine Jenas has tipped Dele Alli to leave Tottenham in order to earn a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad.
On Friday we relayed a Telegraph story that claimed Paris Saint-Germain are ready to end their pursuit of Alli, who they had apparently been targeting on a season-long loan.
The 24-year-old was suddenly linked with a move away from Spurs last weekend after he was left out of the squad that travelled to Southampton.
His chances of starting regularly are likely to decrease even more when loan signing Gareth Bale returns to full fitness.
And Jenas, who made over 200 appearances for Tottenham, thinks the only way Alli will convince Gareth Southgate to call him up for the Euros is if he is playing and scoring – something he is unlikely to do at Spurs.
“I would be concerned if I was Dele. He has always been loved by everyone and every manager,” Jenas said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“No doubt that his form has dipped over the last 18 months, he knows that more than anybody.
“Two weeks ago I would have said, if I was Dele Alli, I would stay and dig in. But all the signs lead to getting him out of there.
“At the end of the season there’s the Euros – he would be desperate to get back in Gareth Southgate’s thoughts. The only way he is going to do that is by playing football and scoring goals again.
“Right now it doesn’t feel like Jose Mourinho or Spurs is the place for him. I’d be looking to move on now.”
Alli struggled to make an impact in Tottenham’s latest Europa League qualifier on Thursday night and is unlikely to start against Newcastle United on Sunday.
It will be interesting to see if he pushes for a move if his minutes don’t increase over the next week.
Not sure I Trust Josie Judgement after playing Dier and keeping his faith in somebody who has made lots of mistakes and when he was Banned for 4 end of last season Tottenham won all the games
Poch never played him as first choice just look at first game of season on Everton Goal he was just standing and got beat in the Air Southampton Game again he was turned over by Ings i could go on
Totally agree!
Not sure what Paul is saying above, but as for Jenas’s view of Alli ..don’t be absurd, Jermaine. Alli will bounce back, and he showed signs of form again this week.
He is a genius of a footballer. The trouble is that he thinks too far ahead of players around him, sometimes, and I’m a bit surprised that Jose can’t see
that Alli may not be a huge runner, chaser or presser, but his gift is creating space for himself and teammates around him (thus freeing up their own play),
making an incisive pass, and ghosting in for the odd goal.
That’s the Alli I know and have witnessed. And that’s what makes him akin to our ‘true historical greats’ John White, and Martin Peters.
He might have lost direction and form playing in an increasingly unbalanced side, but his class is permanent and our squad is now much improved.
Don’t forget that Alli’s best position was a number 10, playing just off Kane, and with Eriksen behind. That was one hell of an axis in world football, but he’s had
little of Kane or Eriksen to play with in the last few years, what with Kane’s injuries and Eriksen running down both his contract, and his form.
Alli just needs to figure out with Jose where he is now at his best on the park ..whether as a Gerrard type player coming from deep on goal, playing on the flanks alongside
wingbacks who are getting back to the standard of the Walker/Tripps/Rose days, or trying to be playmaker like Eriksen.
None of those positions equals his true strength of being a ghosting no.10 who can also score goals, but I’d take Alli in any of those positions.
He just needs good ‘thinking’, as well as fast, players around him like Kane, Bale and others.
I agree with CB, Alli oozes class and will not be allowed to leave, even if he wanted to, Levy wouldn’t allow it. Jose rates him but is showing him and the team that it’s not a given you start unless you work for it. Alli will come good, cream always rises to the top. Be quiet Jermaine, Alli,
happily, isn’t you, he’ll fight for his place.
Both Dele and Dier need to go. They’ve peaked and have become passengers now. Dier especially – hopefully Jose can now see that he actually costs us goals whereas Dele has lost his edge, hunger, loves the high life more so just doesn’t create much anymore.
Jermaine jenas is a quitter, who doesn’t have any loyalty to any cause, hopefully Dele won’t listen to him, he just needs to knuckle down, get his head straight and start doing what he knows how to do best at Tottenham
Well said Nigel Coyne.
Jenas is a more than decent pundit but as a player was absolute crap.
Was hoping every match that he would be left out of the squad.