TalkSport reporter Alex Crook has given his thoughts on Dele Alli and a possible move to Newcastle United in the January transfer window.
Whilst Newcastle have been busy so far in the January transfer window, managing to bring in Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, as their recent result against Watford showed, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done if they are to get out of the relegation battle.
One area that does need to be strengthened is midfield, with no midfielder managing to get more than one goal for the club so far this year in all competitions.
Alli has been linked with a move to St. James’ Park this window, and according to Crook, who was speaking on the TalkSport GameDay podcast, it turns out that the seeds for a possible move have been planted for some time, with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe having reportedly been a fan of his since he first burst onto the scene.
Crook said: “Keep an eye on Dele Alli as a possible transfer target. I dug out some old quotes from Eddie Howe from a few years back when he was in charge at Bournemouth, and he admitted that he twice tried to sign Dele Alli when he was at MK Dons.
“My understanding is that admiration is still there and he is on a long list of potential loan targets that could well be brought to the football club between now and the end of the window.”
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One thing that has held Alli back, particularly in the past two seasons, has been inconsistent playing time, with this season continuing to demonstrate how tough it’s been for him to get into the side regularly.
But as he has shown in the past, when he does get regular football, such as in the 2016/17 season, there is a player in there that can make an impact on a side if given the chance. Even Spurs boss Antonio Conte has admitted himself (Sky Sports via SportsMax) that he has been impressed with Alli at times this season.
So it certainly is something that Newcastle should be looking to pursue this window, and if Alli was to play regularly on Tyneside, it could come across as a move that may not only benefit Newcastle, but might also give Alli another chance to resurrect his career and potentially stake his claim for a spot in the England squad for this year’s World Cup.
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