Monday 9 February 2015 22:25, UK
Dele Alli is being tipped to shine at Tottenham when the club’s latest signing links up with his new team-mates next season. Here, Peter Beagrie takes an in-depth look at what the midfielder will bring to the north London club.
Since making his debut as a 16-year-old in 2013, the England Under-19 international has established himself as one of the top young talents in the country.
On Deadline Day he was linked with moves to Newcastle United and Aston Villa, but it was Spurs who won the race for his signature and he penned a five-and-a-half year deal with the club.
While Tottenham will not see the benefits of the £5m deal in the short term – Alli has been loaned back to MK Dons for the rest of the season – could it turn out to be one of the shrewdest bits of business in recent years among a number of big-money signings at White Hart Lane?
He is an extremely talented individual who I expect to flourish and he is very level-headed too. I think he is a star for the future for Spurs, if they allow him to develop
Sky Sports' Football League pundit Peter Beagrie certainly thinks so, and believes Alli could be a key figure at Spurs in the coming seasons.
“He is going to be a quality Premier League player, he has got absolutely everything,” said Beagrie. “He is a goalscoring midfielder with power and pace, heading ability, he can tackle, shoot, he can do everything. He is an all-round dynamo.
“I genuinely believe, if he continues to develop the way he is, that he will be a massive asset for them and long-term will become a firm fixture and firm favourite in the middle of the park, breaking forward and scoring goals.”
Scoring goals is something Alli has done for fun this season - he is the highest-scoring midfielder in the Football League with 13 to his name.
Athlete
He has been with the Dons since the age of 10, made his first-team debut at the age of 16 and this season has been watched by scouts from some of the Europe’s top clubs.
“Ever since he made his debut he has been linked with the big clubs in the Premier League and it hasn’t affected him at all,” said Beagrie.
“(MK Dons manager) Karl Robinson has to take a huge pat on the back with regards to that but he has just continued to perform week in, week out, doing what he does best, which is marauding forward from midfield and scoring goals. while also putting a great shift in.
“He is a tremendous athlete who has already got the physicality to handle the rigours of League One and the temperament as well. He is an extremely talented individual who I expect to flourish and he is very level-headed too. I think he is a star for the future for Spurs, if they allow him to develop.”
Development
For now Alli will continue his development at MK Dons as he tries to help the club finally win promotion from League One.
Then the 18-year-old, who has drawn comparisons to his idol Steven Gerrard, will try to make the step up to the Premier League and also graduate from England U19s to the senior team.
“If attitude, application and genuine ability counts for anything then I can definitely see him playing international football,” said Beagrie.
“There are a lot of players at that age who are going to be the next big thing and it never materialised, so there is a long way to go. But I look at the way Harry Kane has carried the torch for Spurs, an English player in amongst all the signings, and he is the shining light.
“The deal makes sense for me. Selling him, getting the money in the knowledge you have it to invest in the academy and ready-made replacements, and getting him back. It’s the perfect scenario for the selling club, the buying club and the player himself.”
