Dele Alli has become one of the most wanted players in European football. His stunning form has not only seen the 20-year-old rise to one of the top scorers in the league with 11 goals in 22 appearances, but it has also helped Spurs emerge as the realistic title contenders to Chelsea. The club have been able to take advantage of Liverpool and Arsenal slipping up in recent games. They are second in the table as the season has just gone past the halfway stage.
Alli has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in the last few months. The Spanish giants have reportedly made the midfielder as their priority signing for the summer. A £50 million bid is being prepared by the Spanish club in order to sign the player. There have also been growing rumours about Manchester United’s interest in the player. But according to the reports from the Times, Bayern Munich are the latest club to be linked with the player. The German outfit remains extremely strong in the Bundesliga, but manager Carlo Ancelotti is believed to have his doubts about the team’s ability to remain challenging on the European front.
While Spurs remain adamant that they had no need to sell the player, Alli would see the interest as a great way to either receive a huge pay rise or engineer a move to play alongside names like Robert Lewandowski or Arjen Robben.
It is expected that the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is unlikely to consider any offers below the £85 million – received from the sale of Gareth Bale in 2013. The then-world record transfer is not the only involvement between Madrid and Spurs. The two clubs agreed the transfer of Luka Modric to the Santiago Bernabeu several years ago. While this relationship holds the edge should Spurs decide to sell the player, it is highly unlikely that the North London outfit will accept a lower offer. The entry of Bayern into the picture could result in a bidding war, with Bayern keen on strengthening the squad at all costs.
Striker Harry Kane recently claimed that there was no reason to consider a move away from Spurs at this moment, as the club are showing incredible progress on and off the pitch. However, Alli will be concerned about the strict wage structure at the club. Despite being one of the top players in the English Premier League, Alli is earning just over £60,000 per week. He could be earning three times as much if he makes a move to the likes of Madrid, Bayern or United. This remains the biggest concern for Spurs.
Kane recently signed a new long-term contract which made him the best-paid player at the club alongside Moussa Sissoko. Even then, he earns considerably less than his compatriots. Spurs will have reason to remain anxious in the summer.
