The Belgian international has been a key player for Tottenham Hotspur but he is not getting any younger.
According to a report from the London Evening Standard, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele may have to get used to a role as a bit-part player next season and beyond.
While there is no doubting his quality when he is fit and firing, he has struggled with injury recently and that is reportedly prompting Tottenham to think long and hard about possible long-term replacements.
Harry Winks is a superb prospect but still has a long way to go, while Dembele will be hoping to put his problems behind him and play regularly for Spurs for at least another few seasons.
However, the Standard tellingly mentions Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy’s habit of not often keeping players into their thirties due to their dwindling market value.
That is not to say Tottenham would be foolish enough to cash in on the 29-year-old Dembele just yet, but the club’s summer signings will go a long way to showing how much longer he can remain one of the first names on the team sheet.
Having a player of such quality to call on every few matches is better than not having him at all, but for team consistency that would have to be managed a certain way.
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