Mousa Dembele is 90 per cent likely to leave Tottenham before the transfer window cut-off, according to the Times.
The newspaper claim it is “inevitable” that the Belgium international will leave before the end of the month as Spurs are unwilling to hand a lengthy contract to a player they believe could “run out of steam” in the season.
The Times report the 31-year-old could join Inter Milan as a move to China is looking less likely due to the additional tax cost as a result of Spurs’ steep valuation.
Good move for Tottenham?
Definitely not. Sure, Dembele’s game time has to be carefully managed and the niggling injuries are a constant issue for a player who has been a first-team regular at professional level since the age of 16. The Belgian has more miles on the clock than most 31-year-olds. But, anyone who saw his midfield masterclasses against giants of Europe and the Premier League (who can forget his sensational display against Juventus in Turin?) in February and March will conclude that Tottenham are daft to offload such a unique player, whose combination of power and technique has made him a nightmare for midfield opponents in recent seasons.
This Is Futbol rating 2/10
Likely to happen?
It appears the writing is on the wall for Dembele’s Tottenham career, but don’t necessarily expect him to leave by the 9 August cut-off. Permanent European deals can go through by the traditional 31 August closure, and it is more likely the Belgian will opt for a league that puts less demand on his body and energy levels.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10