Dele Alli urged to quit Tottenham in January window because of Jose Mourinho 'message'

Dele Alli was handed a rare Spurs start in midweek, but his night lasted just 45 minutes, with Jose Mourinho withdrawing him at half-time

Dele Alli needs to leave Tottenham as he is “wasting time” not being used by Jose Mourinho. That’s the view of Arsenal favourite Paul Merson, who believes the England international will complete an exit in the January transfer window.

The midfielder was handed a rare start in midweek, but he was withdrawn from the action at half-time as Spurs fell to a shock 1-0 defeat to Royal Antwerp.

Alli’s opportunities under Mourinho have become increasingly scarce, missing out on four of the last five Premier League squads.

There was speculation that the 24-year-old could leave Spurs during the summer, with a number of approaches from PSG rejected.

The Spurs boss refused to single out Alli for criticism after the loss in Antwerp, but did suggest his fringe players had made future decisions easy.

Jose Mourinho has left Dele Alli out of four of his last five Premier League squads (Image: GETTY)

I don't want to analyse individuals,” Mourinho said on Alli’s performance. “I don't like to do that, especially with you.

You prefer to do that than myself, before matches you always ask me why this player is not playing, why this player is not playing, why this player is not selected.

"Maybe now for a few weeks you don't ask me that because you have the answer.”

And now Merson has said that Mourinho has sent a message to Alli that his playing time will be further limited and should look to secure an exit in the upcoming window.

"It’s hard for him at the moment, he’s not playing, you need to play football,” he told Sky Sports.

"The game is so quick now, that you need to be playing week in and week out – rather than just 45 minutes in seven weeks and then you expect him to be a superstar.

"For me, he has to move on. I don’t think there’s any other reason.”

Asked whether a January transfer was inevitable, Merson claimed that he must do, in order to regain his confidence.

Alli endured a night to forget as Spurs were beaten by Antwerp in Belgium (Image: GETTY)

"When a manager has given you a chance and then he’s brought you off after 45 minutes, that’s a message in itself,” he added.

"He doesn’t look like playing, doesn’t look like getting a game. He needs to move on now in my opinion and get back to where he was.

"When that lad is on song and he gets in the box – he’s as good a finisher as I’ve seen from midfield – he could be another Frank Lampard.

"He gets in the box, he arrives at the right time. He’s a good finisher. His confidence is gone at the moment and I don’t care if you’re Lionel Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo, if you haven’t got any confidence, you aren’t the same player.

"I think he needs to move on in January, because this is a short career. It goes very quickly and when he isn’t playing, he’s wasting time.”