Tottenham supporters expected a big name to depart in the transfer window but the move fell through
Darren Bent has praised Daniel Levy over his decision not to sanction Dele Alli’s loan move to PSG.
The 24-year-old, who earns £100,000 per week according to iNews, had been expected to join the Ligue 1 champions on loan during the January transfer window. The move, however, collapsed on deadline day.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho was said by the Daily Mail to be happy for Alli to reunite with former boss Mauricio Pochettino at the Parc des Princes, but Sky Sports later reported that owner Daniel Levy decided against it.
They said that he had been eager to land a replacement for Alli before the deadline, with Inter Milan’s Christian Eriksen having been mentioned in connection with a return to London.
Alli has made only four appearances in the Premier League for Mourinho’s side this season, and former Tottenham striker Darren Bent says he feels sorry for the England international.
Bent, who scored 25 goals in 79 games during his time at the club before joining Sunderland, believes Levy has been “shrewd” in his thinking.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “For Dele Alli, I do feel a little bit sorry for him.
“He’s played hardly any football this season, and listen, that is a dream move to go to PSG and work with a manager that really rates you.
“You’re going to be working with some of the very best by the way, in Neymar and (Kylian) Mbappe, these top, top players.
“And to be fair in certain situations I think Daniel Levy didn’t want to be made to look stupid, because you know what happens.
“Tottenham are at the minute not going very, very well. He goes over to PSG, he starts ripping it up, playing really well, which I think he would have done, he would have gone into the team and played really well.
“People would have said ‘Well hold on a second, why have you let him go? You’ve let him go, we’re not doing very well, why not play him?’
“So Daniel Levy’s quite clever at that. He’s quite shrewd. He covers all bases.
“Rather than me sending him over there to a manager who’s loved by the Spurs fans first and foremost, sending one of our best players – because Dele Alli for me is still one of their best players – he goes over there, plays very, very well and everyone starts to go ‘Well Daniel Levy again, you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t know what you’re talking about’.
“This is why this situation’s happened. I’m sad for Dele Alli because I want him to play football.”
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