Dele Alli ‘didn’t look himself’ in Tottenham’s emphatic Europa League victory, according to Danny Murphy… as he suggests uncertainty around his future has affected him ‘physically’ with midfielder linked with PSG move
- Dele Alli won and scored a penalty for Tottenham as they beat Maccabi Haifa
- The 24-year-old midfielder replaced Giovanni Lo Celso at half-time for Spurs
- But Danny Murphy said his 45-minute cameo looked like ‘hard work’ at times
- Alli has fallen out of favour with Jose Mourinho and is a transfer target for PSG
Dele Alli was not himself in Tottenham’s 7-2 thrashing of Maccabi Haifa in the final round of Europa League qualifying, according to Danny Murphy.
The 24-year-old midfielder replaced Giovanni Lo Celso at half-time and won and scored a stoppage-time penalty – Spurs’ final goal of the evening – as they hammered their Israeli opponents to qualify for the Europa League group stages.
The England international has fallen out of favour with Jose Mourinho this season and could leave the club before Monday’s transfer deadline, with Sportsmail understanding Paris Saint Germain are intensifying their interest in him.
Dele Alli was not himself in Spurs’ thrashing of Maccabi Haifa, according to Danny Murphy
The 24-year-old has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho and is being linked with PSG
But speaking to Premier Sports after the game, Sportsmail columnist Murphy believes the speculation around his future is affecting his physical performance, despite pulling off a sublime nutmeg on Bogdan Planic that saw him win the penalty he scored.
‘That [play to win the penalty] is the ability he has. He is a street footballer, that is what you pay to watch,’ Murphy said.
‘But he didn’t look himself, it looked hard work for him at times. I think there is physically a problem when you are not mentally right.
‘When you don’t know what your future holds, I think it affects you physically.’
Alli superbly won and then stepped up to score a penalty for Spurs’ final goal of the evening
But Sportsmail columnist Murphy believes he made his cameo look like hard work at times
Spurs boss Mourinho was complimentary of the midfielder’s role in their final goal of the evening, praising his professionalism and seriousness in slotting it away.
‘Good for Dele to come on to create a proper penalty. The action for the penalty was beautiful, and he was serious, cool and professional in scoring it.’
Alli had been left out of four of the last five squads that Mourinho had selected before Thursday night.
He started Tottenham’s opening league fixture of the season against Everton but was withdrawn for Moussa Sissoko at half-time.
Mourinho also praised Alli for his skill to win the penalty after coming on for Giovanni Lo Celso
He also started last Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Shkendija in North Macedonia, completing an hour of the 3-1 win.
And despite featuring off the bench and scoring his first goal of the season against Maccabi Haifa, Sportsmail understands PSG have not given up in their attempts to sign him.
The Ligue 1 champions are set to make a loan offer for the England midfielder in the coming days, though Tottenham’s stance has been he is not for sale or loan.