Dele hot to trot!
BUT PARIS WILL HAVE TO WAIT
MAURICIO POCHETTINO looks unlikely to offer Dele Alli an escape route out of Tottenham in the January transfer window.
David Webb, the transfer guru who worked with Poch on signings for Spurs, reckons the new Paris Saint-Germain boss will spend this month assessing the star-studded squad he has inherited rather than raiding his old club for Alli, who has been dropped by Jose Mourinho.
Pochettino signed Alli, 24, from League One MK Dons and turned him into a Champions League finalist and World Cup semi-finalist and the Argentinian had been tipped to swoop for the midfielder again – along with former Spurs star Christian Eriksen, who has struggled at Inter Milan.
But Webb, who was head of football operations at Huddersfield last season, said Pochettino’s priority will be to work with the players he has already got.
He said: “He knows Eriksen and Dele really well, he had a fantastic relationship with both players and accelerated their development quite rapidly.
“But knowing him he will first of all take a good look at the squad.
“That might take a bit of time so I would imagine in January he will be taking a broad view before making any decisions on who needs to be added. What he has got is a fantastically talented squad.”
Former PSG managers have struggled to get Neymar to track back and do his defensive duties. The new boss prefers a highenergy style and Webb reckons he has the people skills to persuade Neymar to work hard for the team.
He added: “One of Poch’s key strengths is that he is an excellent man-manager so I am sure he will get Neymar to buy into his football.
“In terms of pressing, there will be a key role where Neymar will get to use both sides of his game to good effect.”
PSG could move for Lionel Messi when his contract at Barcelona expires in the summer – and while Webb is not sure if he would be Pochettino’s top target, he can alter his approach to build a team around him.
“I am sure he wouldn’t turn down Messi if he was available,” he said. “He is clever enough to work him into his system. I think the good thing about Mauricio is he can adapt his coaching philosophy to the players he’s got.”