New Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful of sealing a reunion with Tottenham playmaker Dele Alli at the Parc des Princes, but the deal is some way off completion yet.
Reports on Wednesday suggested the two clubs have reached an agreement for a loan, with PSG said to be given the option to buy the 24-year-old permanently at the end of the temporary deal.
However, in a fresh twist, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho admitted he expects Alli to still be at the club at the end of the transfer window, though didn’t rule out a move.
He said: “I expect. I am saying that since the beginning of the transfer window, I was not expecting anyone to leave, I was not expecting anyone to come.
“At January 27, not long until the end, I don’t believe anything is going to happen, but it is open. Football is football. The transfer window is open, sometimes unexpected things happen, but I don’t expect it.”
It is understood Mourinho is reluctant to let Alli go without finding a replacement by deadline day next week and that is preventing the deal from going through.
Alli has fallen well out of favour at White Hart Lane and is believed to be desperate to link up with his former manager in Paris.
The 24-year-old arrived in north London six years ago in a £5million transfer from MK Dons and was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the country.
He flourished under the Argentine, conjuring up a remarkable 121 goals during his Tottenham career to date.
If he does reunite with Pochettino, he would be joining one of the very best teams in Europe.
Paris Saint-Germain, who reached the Champions League final for the first time last summer, boast two of the football’s biggest superstars in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
So how could their star-studded attack line-up with Alli in their ranks? talkSPORT.com has identified their potential front line and it could be devastating to say the least…
At Spurs, Pochettino often deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation which allowed his attacking stars to thrive.
Harry Kane, who became one of the world’s best strikers under Poch’s guidance, occupied the No.9 role in his XI.
Behind him, Alli and Heung-min Son were regularly used on the flanks, while Christian Eriksen plugged the hole as the creative No.10.
In his opening matches as PSG boss, Poch has continued to use this system and he’s already seen success go his way after picking up his first trophy in management after just 11 days in the job.
Alli is not a natural winger, however, and his ability to play across the forward positions will be no doubt be appealing for Pochettino.
In PSG’s system, he could play in the No.10 role, with Neymar and PSG on the flanks and Mbappe as the striker.
Just like he was with Eriksen at Spurs, Alli could be interchangeable with Di Maria as a No.10 or out on the flanks.
Mauro Icardi is also in PSG’s ranks too, and Poch will also have the option to drop Di Maria and play him as a no.10, with Mbappe slotting in as a right winger – a position he is used to playing.
Only time will tell if Alli makes his move to PSG and it will be fascinating to see if he can hit the ground running in Ligue 1 if he does.
He is indisputably a hugely talented player and his two Young Player of the Year accolades in the top-flight serve as evidence for that.
And if he wants any chance of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2021, Alli’s move to PSG must come to fruition.
Is this how PSG could line-up with Alli in their ranks?
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