Keown: Tottenham deal for Alli is healthy, but money should not rule

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Dele Alli is reportedly set to double his money at Tottenham.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has claimed in his Daily Mail column ‘Tackle Keown’ that Tottenham Hotspur are right to reportedly double Dele Alli’s wages as it is ‘healthy’.

The Mail claimed on Wednesday evening that Spurs had made the first move in an attempt to tie down 21-year-old Alli with a new £100,000-a-week contract, as they look to secure the playmaker’s future.

Alli is said to be earning £50,000 a week with the north Londoners at the moment, which has alerted European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, who can afford to offer the England international a lot more.

However, Spurs are now looking to double Alli’s money and Keown believes that can only be a good thing, stating Alli can have no complaints after being consistently given wage increases by chairman Daniel Levy during his time at the club.

“I think this is healthy at football clubs,” Keown said. “You shouldn’t let money rule your head but at the same time, if you are competitive on the pitch, you want to be competitive off it. You want parity with players at other clubs.

“Alli is a top talent. He can’t really have any complaints about the way he has been looked after by his club – in the last two years, he has seen his wages go from £12,000 a week to £25,000 to £50,000 and now potentially £100,000. It’s healthy.

“Alli is winning a lot of plaudits and Mauricio Pochettino is a very good manager who wants to look after these youngsters. He wants them looked after by his club too. He doesn’t want any heads turned.”

Former MK Dons midfielder Alli has been criticised from failing to mirror his 2016-17 exploits this time around, as Spurs sit way down the Premier League table in a lowly fifth place and three points off the top four.

However, considering his age and his position, Alli’s stats in the final third are still quite remarkable. He has scored nine goals this season, and added a further 10 assists in just 27 league and cup outings.

The midfielder will be in Spurs’ squad for Saturday evening’s Premier League clash against Everton at Wembley, as Spurs look to keep the pressure on the top four with a 13th league win of the season.