When considering standout Tottenham Hotspur players from roughly the past decade and a half, there`s a long list of options.
While they didn`t win silverware with the club, players like Harry Kane, Mousa Dembélé, Jan Vertonghen, and Christian Eriksen undoubtedly left their mark on English football and the Premier League while playing for the North London club.
From that period, one player who was arguably at his peak among the country`s best was Dele Alli.
The English midfielder was a formidable presence at times, contributing to 35 goals in the 2016/17 season. This is why supporters should be keen on rumors linking the team to a player previously compared to Dele.
Tottenham Transfer News
Before focusing on the player in question, it`s worth mentioning other talented individuals linked with a move to Spurs recently, including Leroy Sané and Angel Gomes.
With his contract expiring soon, Leroy Sané would represent a smart free acquisition. Despite playing just 2376 minutes over 45 matches this season, the Bayern Munich star has scored 13 goals and provided six assists.
Intriguingly, Angel Gomes could also join the North London side as a free agent. Reports suggest that earlier this week, Spurs presented an offer to the English midfielder, who has earned four senior caps for England and played 134 matches for LOSC Lille.
However, unlike Jack Grealish, neither of these players has been previously likened to Dele.
According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs are indeed interested in the Manchester City star.
The report disclosed that the Lilywhites have commenced discussions with Grealish`s representatives, `exploring the possibility` of bringing him to North London this summer.
Positively, the report states Grealish is open to a move to N17 (Spurs) now that they`ve secured Champions League football for next season. The challenge, however, is that City is reportedly seeking an offer of up to £43 million for his departure.
While this would be a relatively expensive deal, Grealish possesses the kind of unconventional attacking flair that Ange Postecoglou might want for next season. His past comparisons to Dele are an added advantage.
Why Spurs Might Want Grealish
Before discussing other potential reasons for Spurs to sign Grealish this summer, let`s look closer at the comparisons to Dele, the first of which came from Lee Hendrie back in 2018.
At that time, the young prospect was beginning to make a name for himself at Aston Villa. Hendrie was highly impressed by his skill in getting `past players with ease` and lauded his `creative` attributes, stating they were comparable to `the Dele Alli`s of the world`.
Just a few years on, Dean Smith also compared the two Englishmen, suggesting the then-Villa standout possessed the same goalscoring `star quality` that the former MK Dons player showed in his early Tottenham days.
Besides the comments from players and pundits, both footballers have represented England in major tournaments. Crucially, at different points in their careers, both possessed the ability to conjure something impactful from seemingly nothing.
In essence, it`s likely the opportunity to revive this inherent skill in the Manchester City player, whom Pep Guardiola famously called `unbelievable,` that is primarily motivating the Lilywhites` interest.
