West Ham targets Dele Alli in place of Jesse Lingard

 

West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli as an alternative to Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard. Should that happen it would be a huge relief for Alli who has earlier been told by the club that he is at liberty to leave.

Lingard spent the second half of last season on loan at the London Stadium, enjoying a terrific spell where he scored nine league goals.

The 29-year-old opted to stay in Manchester to fight for his place in the Red Devils’ team but has failed to start a Premier League match this season.

Dele, on the other hand, is stagnating at Tottenham, having broke onto the scene in north London as a teenager.

He won the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017 and was involved in the England squad for both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

The 25-year-old started all of Spurs’ opening six league matches under Nuno Espirito Santo this term.

However, he was subbed off at half time in the derby defeat to Arsenal in September, and has only played 19 Premier League minutes for the Londoners since.

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It’s five years since Dele Alli flicked the ball up, then back over his own head and volleyed it into the bottom corner.

According to Eurosport, West Ham are willing to take a chance on Dele if they fail to strike up a deal for Lingard.

The Hammers were interested in signing the Man Utd playmaker in the summer, but were not willing to meet the Red Devils’ demands.

Lingard will be able to leave United for free at the end of the season. He can also negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1.

Spurs will  not stand in the way of Dele  who has also been linked with Newcastle  if he wants to leave in the winter transfer window.