Transfer News: Barcelona to battle Real Madrid for Tottenham superstar Dele Alli

Barcelona are set to go head-to-head with their fierce rivals Real Madrid in their pursuit of Tottenham superstar Dele Alli.

Daily Mirror are claiming that Barcelona have entered the race to sign Tottenham superstar Dele Alli. The in-form England international has been making waves in the Premier League and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. But it seems Barcelona are set to challenge Los Blancos in their pursuit of the breakout star.

Tottenham signed Alli in February, 2015 for near £5 million move and loaned him back to his former club MK Dons. Alli finally arrived at White Hart Lane before the start of the 2015-16 campaign and has since taken the Premier League by storm with his prodigious talent.

Alli was a constant feature in the Tottenham starting eleven in his debut season in top-flight football, with a return of 10 goals and 9 assists in 33 league appearances. His performances and impactful displays saw him break into the senior squad for the Three Lions.

And, this season, he has already matched his tally from last season in the Premier League, with almost half of the season left. His haul of ten goals and two assists in 19 league appearances includes 3 consecutive braces, the latest one coming in a 2-0 victory over Chelsea, which halted the Blues’ domineering run.

Real Madrid have been linked with the prodigious talent in recent times, with reports claiming Los Blancos are plotting a £50 million raid for the superstar. The move is likely to pan out in the summer though, due to Madrid’s one-window transfer ban.

Barcelona seem to have joined their fierce rivals in the pursuit of Alli. The move does make sense for both the clubs. Alli, at the nascent age of 20, represents a player who can play football at the highest level at least for the next decade, if not more.

Even at 20, the player has the ability to slot straight into the first-team setup of either of the two European heavyweights. But the report does iterate that a bid in the region of £70 million shall be necessary in order to get Tottenham to negotiate a potential transfer for the player.

Alli has recently signed an extension that sees his new deal run till 2022, something which is likely to drive the price up. Also, Alli has proven his big-game pedigree in the recent past, the latest being a brace against Chelsea. He has the technical prowess and height to pose a threat in all areas combined.

With Pochettino creating a dynasty at Tottenham, the Argentine is unlikely to let the prodigious English international leave. However, as has been illustrated in the past with the sales of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, Tottenham may be powerless if Real or Barcelona come knocking in the summer.

And judging by the continued meteoric rise of Alli, come knocking they surely will.