Real Madrid are reportedly plotting a move for England international Dele Alli, with Florentino Perez keen on a midfield revamp.
As per a report from Spanish publication Don Balon, Real Madrid have turned their attention from Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane to his club and country teammate Dele Alli.
Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of Kane, with club president Florentino Perez believed to be intent on signing the Englishman in the January transfer window, owing to his team’s struggles in front of goal in the ongoing campaign.
However, given the status that the England captain enjoys at Tottenham, coupled with the astronomical transfer fee that Real Madrid would have to pay to secure Kane’s services, they have reportedly decided to put their interest in the centre-forward on the back burner for the time being.
Instead, Real Madrid president Perez has now switched his focus to Kane’s Tottenham and England teammate Alli. The 22-year-old has grown into one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League since joining Spurs back in 2015. In the three years that Alli has been with the North London outfit, he has amassed 152 appearances, scoring 48 goals and assisting 41 more.
Things have been going slow for the Englishman in the 2018-19 campaign though, with a hamstring problem holding him back. So far, Alli has featured in six games for Tottenham in all competitions, bagging a couple of goals.
Real Madrid haven’t had the best of starts to life under new manager Julen Lopetegui. Having lost the UEFA Super Cup to neighbours Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos had gone four matches without a win in all competitions before the international break kicked in.
While the lack of goals has been a huge issue for the reigning European champions in the ongoing campaign, their midfield department too has looked rusty and off pace. Luka Modric, coming on the back of an arduous summer having been involved in the FIFA World Cup, hasn’t been at his brilliant best, while German pass master Toni Kroos has not been living up to his usual standards either.
While Dani Ceballos is finally starting to come into his own at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid president Perez is understood to be of the belief that the time is ripe to revamp the team’s midfield department. And the club supremo has his sights firmly set on Alli.
This is not the first time Alli has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. There were plenty of talks of the 31-time capped England international moving to the Spanish capital back in the summer of 2017, but nothing materialized. However, Perez is believed to be determined to get his man this time out at all costs.
Alli, who is under contract with Tottenham till the summer of 2022, is believed to be valued at €120 million, as per the aforementioned report. However, given the recent trends in the transfer market, that figure does seem to be some way off the mark, considering the quality and value Alli would be bringing to the table.
Tottenham are believed to have no interest in selling one of their best players at the moment. And the fact that he has four years left on his contract, puts Spurs in a strong negotiating position. So, it is highly unlikely that Real Madrid will see their wishes of signing Alli come true anytime soon.
