OPINION
Ever since Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele insisted he would wait until after the World Cup to discuss his future, speculation has been rife about a potential summer exit.
The Daily Mirror reported on Tuesday morning that Spurs are now willing to listen to acceptable offers for the 30-year-old midfield destroyer.
The newspaper claim that Chinese Super League sides are ready to reignite their interest in Dembele, with Spurs lining up Barcelona’s Andre Gomes and Benfica’s Bryan Cristante as potential replacements.
That report was followed up by one in the Independent which claims that Dembele is himself ready to quit the club this summer in order to seek a new challenge after eight seasons in England.
It is said that China is his most-likely destination, with Dembele ready to call time on the physical demands of the Premier League for a longer, more lucrative contract in the Far East.
Now, these reports do not necessarily mean anything, and may indeed just be press speculation designed to stir things up this summer, but let’s imagine for a second that they are true.
If Dembele does indeed want to leave this summer, and Spurs are willing to listen to acceptable offers for the Belgian, then the club will be in for a rude awakening next season.
The 30-year-old has shown himself to be one of the Premier League’s greatest current midfielders this term, leading Spurs’ charge into the Champions League last-16 and their likely qualification for the competition for the third time running next season.
His peers at Spurs are regularly quoted as saying he is the most talented play in their squad, one which contains the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.
He is also a clear favourite of Mauricio Pochettino, who has regularly described the Belgian as a ‘genius’, and the fans, who revere the midfield destroyer.
The undeniable fact is that Dembele is irreplaceable, and his departure would threaten to unravel all the good work that has been done by Pochettino at Spurs in recent years.
This is the kind of player who only comes along every so often, and letting him leave would be a grave error from the Tottenham hierarchy.
Spurs fans must hope that these reports are just speculation, with Dembele to sign a new deal this summer, or the club will not be the same next season.