Levy agrees to let Conte outcast go as Spurs give up on Alli

Matt Stead
Tottenham player Dele Alli

Dele Alli will be allowed to leave Tottenham on loan in January with a view to a more permanent solution in the summer.

Since Antonio Conte was appointed Tottenham manager on November 2, Alli has played just two of a possible 540 minutes in the Premier League, while failing to stake his first-team claim in a Europa Conference League start against NS Mura.

Alli was substituted before the hour mark of that particular debacle, after which Conte made some revealing comments on the standard of his squad.

“After three weeks I am starting to understand the situation. It is not simple,” said the Italian coach. “At this moment the level at Tottenham is not so high.

“There is an important gap to the top teams in England. Of this we must not be scared. I am here to work, here to improve the situation.

“I know that in this moment we need to have patience, time and I am here because I know there are problems to solve.

“After three-and-a-half weeks, I am happy to stay here but at the same time I must be honest and tell you we need to work a lot to improve the quality of the squad. We are Tottenham and Tottenham in this moment, there is an important gap.”

Alli might have been one of the biggest losers of that situation, as it has now been revealed that Tottenham will field loan offers for his services next month.

The Athletic report that while Daniel Levy rebuffed previous interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Alli, the 25-year-old is available with the blessing of the chairman, director of football Fabio Paratici and head coach Conte.

Leading figures at the club feel Alli ‘would benefit from regular game time elsewhere,’ particularly if his value is to increase ahead of a possible sale at the end of the season.

Tottenham realise that ‘potential suitors will be reluctant to offer the sort of money’ the north London club would expect for a talented player with more than two years remaining on his contract, thus a six-month spell elsewhere would benefit all parties.

Paul Merson reckons a move to Wolves could suit Alli.

“They need someone who is willing to run past Jimenez, in my opinion, and that might cause problems,” he said recently.

“You know what? That might be Dele Alli. If you can get Dele Alli to another club and he can get his mojo back, he might the answer for them.

“I don’t know too many players that have got that Dele Alli X-factor about him when he is on his game, that he is prepared to run beyond and finish and score goals.”