Six football agencies scramble for Dele Alli’s signature

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted Dele Alli must keep his focus on his football as six of the sport’s biggest agencies fight to sign him up.

Alli is splitting with Rob Segal, the agent who took him to Tottenham from MK Dons, which has prompted a huge scramble for the England international.

Despite the fact his contract with Segal runs beyond this season, Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola have joined Stellar Group, Key Sports Management, Wasserman and Base Soccer in expressing an interest in taking Alli on as a client.

Harry Hickford, who Alli regards as a brother, is helping in the selection process and could yet manage the 21-year-old’s affairs himself.

Alli’s decision to change agents has sparked fears that Tottenham could struggle to hold on to him past this season, while there are concerns that he may not receive the right personal care with a representative who has a long list of world stars to look after.

Pochettino said: “His big issue must be to focus on trying to improve and develop his game, to stop and try to be better every day. That is my focus, too, my biggest issue.”

Pochettino, who had an agent as a player but not as a manager, added: “It’s important to find a trusted person that can help you to be better every day and help in all the business.

“In the past, it was completely different. Today the players are products with a lot of things happening around them. They need people that look after them because the business is so big today around the players.”