Dele Alli has been linked with a move to Wrexham after leaving Como on a free transfer. But his arrival will certainly split opinion.
Dele Alli is once again a free agent. The former Spurs and England star has endured a real fall from grace over the last few years, but he may get one or two more opportunities to try and get back on his feet.
The latest teams to be linked are in the Championship. Wrexham and Birmingham City are interested in Alli who has recently been let go by Como having made just one appearance for the Serie A side.
Wrexham fans have shown mixed opinions on Alli potentially arriving at the Racecourse, given how poorly he’s been playing in recent years and how much he’d likely cost owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac in wages.
Lee Hendrie explains why Dele Alli may not work out at Wrexham
Alli has played on some of the biggest stages against some of the biggest teams and alongside some of world football’s best players. Speaking to Football League World, pundit Lee Hendrie thinks Alli needs that same kind of quality around him in order to get back to his best, and whilst Wrexham have a good set of midfielders, it’s nothing near what Alli might need to get back on top.
Hendrie explained: “I think Dele Alli, at 90 or 100% of his game gets into most sides, doesn’t he? I think that’s the difference. You have to look at what his fitness levels are like. Is his head in the right space?
“It would be tough. Top players who have been at the top, playing in better teams and squads, you do think it does get the extra 10% out of players.”
Hendrie then moved to play down a potential move to Birmingham City, adding: “I think it would be tough for him to walk into that Birmingham side because they’ve been one of the better sides in the Championship so far this season, so that would be a difficult one for that to happen.”
Instead of Dele Alli, Wrexham should play this player more
Wrexham’s 25-man squad list has been submitted and after initially being left out, Ollie Rathbone is returning, with the midfielder understood to be closing in on a return to action.
He’ll add another quality midfielder to the ranks, alongside Lewis O’Brien and Wrexham’s £6.5million deadline day signing Ben Sheaf to name a couple. Another is Harry Ashfield.
Ashfield certainly has some similarities to a younger Alli: he’s got a great touch and an eye for goal, although Alli at 19 years old was streaks ahead of where Ashfield is right now.
But given some more game time this season, Ashfield could quickly develop. And playing alongside top experienced Championship midfielders will only help to bring Ashfield up to speed.
Alli never really looked that likely for Wrexham, and they don’t really need to make that move either.
