Tottenham Hotspur prodigy Dele Alli is struggling to replicate his form from last season.
Dele Alli is struggling to consistently hit the heights of last season at Tottenham Hotspur.
The 21-year-old scored 18 Premier League goals for Spurs in the 2016-17 campaign – more than any other midfielder in the division – but he has had as many bad days as he has good days in recent months.
On the back of a disappointing showing in the North London derby, Saturday was another bad day for Alli as Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw by managerless West Bromwich Albion at Wembley.
All players, especially those of Alli’s tender age, endure dips in form and Spurs need to take some of the responsibility for it because the England international is suffering from a lack of competition for his place.
Alli and Christian Eriksen are nailed-on starters for Tottenham every week when fit, but both of the attacking midfielders are liable to spells of ineffectiveness either due to tiredness or complacency.
With Erik Lamela having been absent for over a year, Spurs have not had any options to push Alli or Eriksen for their spot in the team and this lack of depth needs to be addressed in the January transfer window.
According to The Telegraph, Mauricio Pochettino is keen on Everton’s Ross Barkley, and he would be a signing of sufficient quality to put pressure on Alli, forcing him to raise his game during poor patches.
Signing Barkley would not only give Spurs another option, but it would improve the players around him.
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