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Tottenham Hotspur Links: Axel Witsel is Still a Target for Spurs

By Alexander Balano

Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli (20) plays the ball while defended by MLS All Stars defender Drew Moor (3) of the Colorado Rapids during the second half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. MLS All Stars defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli (20) plays the ball while defended by MLS All Stars defender Drew Moor (3) of the Colorado Rapids during the second half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. MLS All Stars defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s time for for another Tottenham Hotspur Links to read.

Transfer rumors abound on today’s Tottenham Hotspur Links. Axel Witsel is still a target for Tottenham and Sofiane Boufal will only transfer from Lille if he can join a big European club who plays in the Champions League — which isn’t surprising for a young player who wants to continue improving himself against the elite teams and players in European football. Sandwiched in between these two Tottenham targets is an explanation on why Liverpool pulled out from the Dele Alli sweepstakes before Spurs signed him last January. To the links below.

The Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder is still a target for Tottenham ever since this summer despite the outrageous £73 million price tag that was applied to Axel Witsel to fend off potential suitors. But now that the transfer fee has dropped considerably to £21 million, Spurs have to outbid AC Milan who are also eyeing the 26-year-old.

RELATED: Tottenham Links: Spurs’ Youth Training with England’s senior squad

The Belgian international has made 60 appearances for Belgium and has notched four goals in 21 appearances for Zenit this season. Not only will adding another creative midfielder help Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield which is starting to take a hit with injuries but there will be another Belgian player added onto the team which is beyond coincidence at this point. Because there’s four on the squad right now.

It’s already well documented that Liverpool were one of the other clubs besides Newcastle United and Aston Villa who were interested in former MK Dons central midfielder, Dele Alli. But one reason why the Reds had dropped out of the running was because of Alli’s contract and how expensive a then-18-year-old would have been with add-ons. The amount would have kept rising higher and higher as soon as Dele Alli triggers these add-ons based on a number of factors — which weren’t discussed in the article unfortunately but could be summed up as performance-based.

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Other reasons why Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool decided to pass on Dele Alli when bids were coming in last January was because Liverpool had already signed Emre Can last summer and a bid lined up for James Milner.

Signing Emre Can is still a good move for Liverpool in the long term because of his age, 21-years-old, and the versatility to play multiple positions besides his natural central midfield role: defensive midfield, center-back and full-back.

However the worst reason that teams shouldn’t make for why players have to be avoided is because “they’re not ready yet”. Here’s what James Pearce wrote”There was a feeling that he [Dele Alli] would need another 12 to 18 months to be ready for the demands of Premier League football.”

If Dele Alli was told last January, that he needed 12 to 18 months to be ready, then this January would be 12 months. Adding in six more months would be in June. It’s not that Dele Alli wasn’t ready, because he was after getting extensive first team minutes during the pre-season. It’s because teams tend to favor Premier League experience — which is smart to an extent but limits which players who you can sign.

The 22-year-old Sofiane Boufal is happy to stay at Lille where he has scored four goals in 13 appearances this season but knows that in order to continue his progress as a player, he must seek a transfer to a big European club who can make it into the Champions League. The world’s most elite competition at a club level. It’s standard for every footballer that it’s a goal/dream to play in the Champions League besides playing football as a child and representing your country.

Next: Tottenham's Conundrum: Son or Lamela

Here’s Sofiane Boufal talking to France Football about a potential move if it happens (Tottenham were interested in a £21.6 million move and loaning him back to Lille):

I plan to go later in my career to a big European club that will play hopefully in the Champions League, in order to continue my progression,” Boufal told France Football. “Today there are rumours of names but for now I do not mind. For now, I am very much in Lille and it is the ideal club for me. It’s always the same.”

“When you start to play well in matches then people talk a lot and there are rumours. It’s like that. I try to move forward, improve efficiency, to have the best statistics, and then we’ll see (about the future).”