Exclusive: Paris-Saint Germain begin talks to sign Dele Alli from Tottenham
Paris Saint-Germain are in talks to sign Dele Alli, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder who is upset and confused after being omitted from the Spurs squad for a successive second game.
The likelihood is that Alli - who did not travel to Southampton for Sunday's 5-2 victory at St Mary's - will leave Spurs on a season-long loan although Jose Mourinho suggested he would feature in Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie away at League Two Leyton Orient.
Tottenham are expected to make a raft of changes for that fixture as they juggle a congested fixture list that also includes a 3,000-mile round trip to play Shkendija in North Macedonia in the Europa League on Thursday.
Telegraph Sport revealed last week that Tottenham offered Alli to Real Madrid, also on a season’s loan, as part of the negotiations to bring Gareth Bale back to Spurs and to sign left-back Sergio Reguilón for £27.5 million. Alli is attracting interest from Internazionale, as well as PSG.
The 24-year-old’s team-mates have also been left surprised by Mourinho's treatment of Alli, who was substituted at half-time during the disappointing 1-0 home defeat by Everton. He then did not travel to Bulgaria for the Europa League tie against Lokomotiv Plovdiv last Thursday.
Alli was then snubbed for a third time when Mourinho did not include him in the 18-man squad for the match at St Mary’s.
When Mourinho was asked about the significance of Alli’s omission, he said: “The only thing I can say is that I left eight players behind, they stayed training this morning. They are a big group; Dele was amongst these. I can’t start with all of them. I cannot have a bench without defenders.
“If a squad is a puzzle, a bench is also a little puzzle. I cannot have on the bench four wingers, a No10 and no defenders. In these last two matches Dele stays out. Maybe on Tuesday he will be back.”
Asked whether Alli is likely to leave, Mourinho added: “I am not responsible for the market, I don’t know how to answer that question. What I want is a balanced squad. That’s what I want. He doesn’t need to be sacrificed, but a squad is a puzzle.”
PSG are in the market for a midfield player – as one of three asked for by coach Thomas Tuchel - and it is understood that sporting director Leonardo has been considering a move for Chelsea’s Tiémoué Bakayoko. AC Milan, who took the France international on loan in 2018-19, are also interested in bringing him back to the San Siro. But Bakayoko is contracted to Chelsea until 2022 and the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement.
It may be that PSG secure Alli on a long-term transfer but initial talks have centred on a loan move for the 24-year-old who, it is believed, is keen to move and is attracted by the possibility of joining the Champions League finalists.
PSG have been long-term admirers of Alli, whose contract at Spurs runs until 2024, and also like the idea of signing an English player. It certainly does not appear that Alli features in Mourinho’s plans and a new challenge could appeal as he tries to win back his place in the England squad. He would undoubtedly he attracted by the prospect of playing alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Neymar and competing again in the Champions League.
Alli’s latest omission came as a major surprise within the Spurs squad as he is a popular figure among his team-mates. He is understood to have been left upset and confused by the decision with players now concerned that he will be frozen out under Mourinho if he remains at the squad.
Mourinho was far more positive about the signings of Bale – even though he will not be fit for another month – and Reguilón.
“Gareth is one of the top players in Europe, Sergio was amazing last season in Sevilla,” he said. “Ask me if I’m happy with these two, I say yes I am.”
Mourinho also confirmed that he still hoped to sign a striker having seen Southampton rebuff his club’s initial attempt to sign Danny Ings, who scored the opening goal at St Mary's.
