Tottenham sensation Dele Alli is close to agreeing a deal with super agent Mino Raiola, according to the Independent.
The sports site claim that the England international, 21, is on the verge of signing up with the Dutch representative after widespread reports that he would not employ a high profile adviser.
The Sports PR Company announced on their Twitter account last month that they have agreed a deal with the Tottenham midfielder to take charge of his public relations.
Happy to announce we are now working with @dele_official pic.twitter.com/AM37HKvX8n
— Sports PR Company (@SportsPRCompany) December 6, 2017
It was further reported that Alli’s adoptive brother Harry Hickford would be his representative, Creative Artists Agency were to look after his commercial dealings and the Sports PR company would deal with his public relations in a three-tiered operation.
But the Independent report that there is “confidence” among Raiola’s team that he will secure an agreement to run the affairs of Alli in succession to Rob Segal, the British agent.
OPINION
The possibility of Alli linking up with Raiola is a shock twist that will worry Tottenham fans given the agent’s track record of sealing big-money moves for his high profile clients. Just look at the case of Romelu Lukaku, who sealed a £90million move from Everton to Manchester United soon after swapping his long-time Belgian agent Christophe Henrotay for Raiola. The Dutchman’s stable of clients also include Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mario Balotelli. By appointing someone with experience of brokering deals to big clubs, Alli’s priority would appear to be shifting to maximising his marketability and value rather than simply being the best footballer he can be.