Barca legend claims Man City will ‘break the bank’ to sign Alli

Daniel Roberts
Dele Alli: City planning swoop for Alli

Dele Alli: City planning swoop for Alli

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is planning a sensational swoop for Tottenham’s Dele Alli, according to Barcelona legend Xavi.

The former Barcelona midfielder has revealed that he has had conversations with his ex-boss over Alli.

The 37-year-old, who now plays his football for Qatari club Al Sadd, has won both the World Cup and the Champions League and has labelled Alli as ‘one of the best in Europe’.

Alli won the PFA Young Player of the Year award on Sunday and a number of European’s elite clubs are tracking him.

And Xavi has revealed that Guardiola and City are one of those teams interested in making a move for Spurs’ 21-year-old midfielder, suggesting he could cost a world-record fee.

“I speak with Pep, and I know he thinks it is important to sign English players,” he told The Sun.

“I am sure in the summer he will look also across Europe for players to improve the squad, but also I expect him to look in the Premier League as well.

“At the moment the best English player there is and also one of the best in Europe is Dele Alli. We are looking at a very special player.

“I am sure it is not going to be a player that Tottenham will want to let go, but we know Manchester City have big resources.”

Spurs are unlikely to let Alli leave the club for anything less than a world-record transfer fee, eclipsing the £89million Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba last summer.

It would see Tottenham net a massive profit on the man they bought for just £5million from MK Dons in 2014.

City, however, will face competition for Alli, with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all interested in the midfielder.