Dele Alli could still play for MK Dons even if Newcastle United buy him

NEWCASTLE United would have to loan back Dele Alli to MK Dons if they sign him before the close of the transfer window.
TASTY DELE: Dele Alli (right)TASTY DELE: Dele Alli (right)
TASTY DELE: Dele Alli (right)

The highly-rated midfielder has been watched by several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Arsenal.

Newcastle have also heavily scouted the 18-year-old, and are now weighing up whether to steal a march on their transfer rivals and slap in a bid this month.

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As SportMail revealed on Saturday, any deal for Alli could include Newcastle loaning him back to MK Dons, as they did with Nottingham Forest for Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow.

Dons boss Karl Robinson says that the League One club expect to lose the teenager, who scored his 12th goal of the season on Saturday – but that they will insist on a clause in the transfer that sees him stay with them for the rest of the season.

Asked whether he felt he could keep Alli before the transfer window closes, Robinson said: “No probably not.

“The big stumbling block in the transfer fee is that we will want him straight back on loan.

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“I think he is scoring or assisting one in two games from centre midfield.

“We lost Benik Afobe who scored 19 goals...we just can’t keep doing that and competing.

“He (Alli) wants to go somewhere where he can play, he wants to play in the Premier League and he has an idea where that may be.”

Robinson was speaking on Goals on Sunday, alongside two former Newcastle midfielders in Lee Clark and Alan Thompson.

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And he said that ‘special’ Alli can go all the way to the top, regardless of which club he joins.

Robinson said: “[He can be] as good as he wants to be, he has got everything.

“He is special. Sometimes you talk about young players and there is not many things other than his left foot that he needs to improve.

“As a human being he is phenomenal and he is the life and soul of the dressing room.”