Real Madrid are readying a move for Tottenham Hotspur star, Dele Alli, in January, according to reports from Spain.
Spanish newspaper Don Balon, claim Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, has made Spurs’ attacking midfielder one of their key transfer targets for the upcoming winter transfer window.
Knowing that Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, is not easy to do business with, the report states that the world footballing giants are prepared to offer midfielder Mateo Kovačić as part of a deal.
Dele Alli has had two excellent seasons with the North London side since joining from MK Dons in 2015, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions already for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, scoring 35 goals and assisting 25 more.
His performances have led to interest from bigger clubs around Europe and none more so than current Champions League holders Real Madrid.
Though Zinedine Zidane’s side have made a very slow start to their La Liga campaign, they have a more realistic chance of winning their domestic league title this season than Tottenham do. And you can certainly expect Madrid to be serious challengers for their fourth Champions League title in five seasons.
Tottenham were forced to cash in on Kyle Walker over the summer when Manchester City came in for the England international. And teammate Danny Rose even had an outburst over the summer, complaining that Spurs do not challenge for trophies or pay their stars the going rate.
Rose was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United and Chelsea during the summer transfer window but nothing materialised. He is currently out injured so Ben Davies has been starting down the left-hand side of the Tottenham defence.
Indeed, Spurs’ lack of trophies means the club would do well to hold onto their stars for much longer. With talented players such as Alli, Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, and Toby Alderweireld among their ranks, it does feel as though it’s only a matter of time before some of these assets are prised away by trophy-hunting sides.
How much truth there is in the Don Balon story remains to be seen. The transfer window does not open again until January and Real Madrid currently have Marco Asensio making waves in their attacking midfield. And they already have Isco, so it would be interesting to see what plans manager Zidane would have for Alli.
Tottenham saw their offer of €25 million for 23-year-old Mateo Kovačić turned down this past summer. The Croatian international has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabéu but remains a very highly-rated midfielder.
The report does not state how much Real Madrid would be willing to offer in cash alongside Kovačić but, given how much of an attractive offer playing for Real Madrid could be to someone like Dele Alli, it’s a deal Tottenham may need to consider seriously.
