“He’s not fit to wear the Spurs shirt ever again” - pundit slates Tottenham midfielder following NS Mura defeat

Dele Alli made only his sixth start of the season as Tottenham Hotspur visited Slovenia to take on NS Mura in the European Conference League.

The midfielder scored in the reverse fixture as Spurs came out 5-1 winners, however failed to impress in what turned out to be a humiliating evening for Antonio Conte’s side.

Alli was taken off early in the second half and replaced by Son Heung-min with the scoreline at 1-0 to NS Mura and former striker Noel Whelan was quick to criticise the 25-year-old.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan said: “It doesn’t matter who the manager is at Tottenham, it hasn’t worked and you can’t see that changing.

“Managers have come and gone and tried to bring out the Dele of old, it hasn’t worked.

“You look at his performances and, urgh, they’re miles off the level needed and where he was three or four years ago when he was one of the best young players in Europe.”

Alli has failed to find his form that brought him into the spotlight when he joined Tottenham from MK Dons in 2015 and has since fallen out of favour under both previous managers in Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo.

While Conte insisted he would give Alli the chance to ‘showcase his talent’ it appears his opportunities are running out and Whelan believes he needs to be moved on from the club.

The ex-Leeds United forward said: “It’s time to let him go – in January if they can find a club for him – because he’s had a number of opportunities now.

“Even Conte coming in hasn’t flicked the switch. Something’s not right where a player who was that good, now, he’s not fit to wear the Spurs shirt ever again”.

The England international - who hasn’t made an appearance for his country since 2019 - has been rumoured to depart the club in the January transfer window and Newcastle United are one club that have previously been linked with a move.

According to Sky Bet, the Magpies are currently 4/1 to sign the out-of-form midfielder, with Rangers (5/1) and PSG (9/1) also favourites.