Paper Round: Spurs chairman Levy warns rivals off Dele Alli swoop

It's Thursday's Paper Round on Olomoinfo Blog. It's the final weeks of the transfer window, and according to the papers, Premier League bosses far and wide are desperate to keep hold of their players.

Levy issues warning against rivals attempts to woo Dele

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has reportedly issued a warning to rival teams, who The Sun claim to have been “sniffing around” midfielder Dele Alli. According to the paper Barcelona and Manchester City have been told that the 21-year-old would not be for sale even for £150 million. The report comes as the newspaper also claimed on Wednesday that Chelsea had offered £50m for wayward defender Danny Rose.

Our view: There's no way Spurs will allow Dele Alli leave for any fee. he is central to Mauricio Pochettino’s plan for the season. This is full stop.

The show’s not over yet, says Koeman

Though it may have been a dry transfer season for several Premier League clubs thus far, one team not afraid of flashing the cash were Everton. If you thought the club’s record transfer fee of £45m for Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, which was announced on Wednesday, might signal the end of Everton’s spree, Thursday’s papers urge you to think again. Positively ballin’ club manager Ronald Koeman says his £145m (or £130m if you believe the Guardian's assessment) transfer bill is yet to grow, with the Dutchman still looking to add a striker and a centre-back to his side, according to The Mirror.

 

Our view: Everton's ambition in this transfer window needs to be applauded. £145m so far on new players and still counting. After losing Lukaku to United, you should expect them to fill the void left by the Belgian. Benteke, Giroud and Welbeck has been on their radar recently but all three targets seems ready to remain at their respective clubs.

But Saints Chairman insists van Dijk stays

But don’t get too excited, Evertonians, as Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger has only just reiterated the club’s sentiment that van Dijk is not for sale, which Thursday’s Mirror leads with alongside a report that Arsene Wenger will refuse to part with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Krueger told the BBC on Wednesday that his stance is “not a personal situation,” and that continuity was important in a club. 

Our view: The van Dijk saga seems like it's just starting. It is understandable for the club to talk about continuity but not with a player who feels his future is no longer with club. The Saints has allowed a lot of players leave in recent season and were still able to get replacements for them. But this will only change if the club shows more ambition in the transfer market and begin to compete. Expect the layer to go on a strike to force a move but it may not be to Liverpool in the end.

City target United reject Evans

A number of Thursday’s back pages report interest by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in West Bromwich Albion and Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans. According to reports, an approach has already been made by City, to the tune of £18m, which was rejected as well as an offer of £10m by Leicester City.

 

Our view: Evans has suddenly become a player in demand ater his fine form form for West Brom last season. City manager, Pep Guardiola still wants more cover at centre back and so feels the 29-year-old former United player is the ideal man but they still have some hurdle to scale through to get their man. That means increase their bid!