Should Dele Alli ever tire of life at one of the Premier League’s top sides he would be welcome to drop down a division and help Aston Villa in their battle to escape the Championship, Steve Bruce joked yesterday.
The England international played an important role off the bench as Tottenham secured passage to the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, Alli’s arrival on the hour helping Spurs find a way past their Championship opponents.
Before goals from Ben Davies and Heung-min Son secured the win for Spurs Bruce was seen talking to Alli on the sidelines and the Villa manager admitted he was plotting a transfer swoop as audacious as any he has ever made in nearly 20 years of management.
"I asked him if he could come and play for us - and see if he's a good player or not!" Bruce said in his post-match press conference.
In Pictures | Tottenham vs Aston Villa | 08/01/2017
"He said 'Steve I’d love to join you, but I think £80 million might be too much'.
"I had the pleasure to meet him at MK Dons when I was there with Hull. He seems a remarkably humble young man. He's a very, very good young player and I hope he goes onto all the great things that we all hope for him.
"He's a very, very good young player and I hope he goes onto all the great things that we all hope for him."
