Paul Merson has claimed on Sky Sports News that Tottenham must hold on to Mousa Dembele as he is “one of the best players in the Premier League” and superior to Manchester United star Paul Pogba.
The Arsenal legend paid tribute to the Belgium international amid speculation he could quit White Hart Lane before the European transfer window shuts at the end of this month.
Merson claimed he would rather have Dembele in his side than World Cup winner Pogba, who joined United for a then-world record £89million two years ago.
“Dembele is one of the best players in the Premier League,” Merson told Sky Sports News’ live deadline day coverage on Thursday afternoon (3.30pm). “If I was Manchester United, I’d sell Pogba for £100million and buy Dembele tomorrow morning.
“I think he’s up there with the best of the best, I really do.”
OPINION
Anyone who watched Dembele’s masterclasses against Juventus, Liverpool, Arsenal and United in January, February and March will find it hard to disagree with Merson’s controversial but perfectly valid claim. Sure, Pogba was a key member of France’s World Cup-winning squad, but even his greatest admirers would not argue he has been good value for the £89million United spent on him, or that he has been a great success after re-joining United. Dembele doesn’t make much in the way of off-field noise – unlike the egotistical and gauche Frenchman – but he has bullied him on the pitch on a few occasions, not least in Spurs’ 2-0 Wembley win against United in January, when anything seemed possible for the Londoners. Dembele could still leave this month, as most major European league clubs can buy players for another 22 days, but Spurs would be foolish to offload the 30-year-old, even though he has entered the final year of his contract. He’s just too good to lose.