Tottenham Fans Should Be Really Excited About the Signing of Dele Alli

Tottenham's season is meandering towards its end. 

Victory over Newcastle ended a short winless run, but Spurs, level fifth in the Premier League, have no real ambitions remaining in this campaign. 

Much to the chagrin of a small but vocal group of supporters, the club will hope to qualify for the Europa League, but that is not a particularly exciting target. 

This has been a promising but ultimately frustrating season, and now, as ever, attention turns to the next campaign.

The transfer window is months from officially opening, but that has not stopped the rumour-mongers' work, and Spurs are typically linked with many names. Some will be high profile, others less so, but perhaps Spurs fans should be most excited about a signing they've already made.

On the final day of the transfer window back in January, Spurs confirmed the signing of MK Dons midfielder Dele Alli. Alli, who gained some acclaim for his performance against Manchester United in the Dons' 4-0 League Cup triumph late last year, was reportedly on the radar of many of the top clubs, but it was Spurs who got their man. 

Alli was named League 1 player of the month for January, presumably capping off a significant week for the young Dons man. 

The man was then crowned 2015 Football League young player of the year; seemingly a just reward for an excellent year in which he has scored 16 goals and laid on seven assists. 

Alli wears the No. 14 shirt and created three goals in that famous win against Manchester United, but it is there that any similarities with Luka Modric end. 

Tall, aggressive and athletic, Alli has been compared to Steven Gerrard. 

A cursory YouTube search yields examples of thunderous goals which have drawn such conclusions, but Alli also has the drive that made Gerrard a legend. 

Jon Super/Associated Press

He is probably also a more astute defensive player than the Gerrard of today. He has a tendency to be overly aggressive in his challenges, also like the former England captain, but generally picks his moments and tackles well.

He is not a primarily defensive midfielder. His attacking statistics tell you as much, but he is perfectly suited to Mauricio Pochettino's favoured two-man central midfield. He will provide competition for Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb and probably push players like Paulinho and Etienne Capoue closer to the exit door. 

The very fact that Alli beat out the competition of Championship players including Patrick Bamford and Nathan Redmond to claim the Football League award is reason for Spurs fans to get excited. 

The last time they bought a winner of that particular award it worked out quite well for them. Gareth Bale won the same bauble in 2007.

Previous winners of the award include Fabian Delph, Wilfried Zaha, Nathaniel Clyne and Tom Ince. At the very least, it seems to be an indication of significant talent. 

The key for Tottenham this season has been progress. 

While the club will likely finish around the same league position as they did last season, and probably on fewer points, there has been significant development in key areas. 

Pochettino's appointment was supposed to help the club bring forward young players and fit them into an club-encompassing playing style. It was not expected to culminate in 2015, rather to show the shoots of growth and continue to blossom over the coming seasons. 

Spurs have been occasionally brilliant this season, something that couldn't be said for a single match in 2013-14. Consistency is, of course, key, but for a young side, this will inevitably take time. 

There is little doubt that Pochettino is developing an excellent young team at Spurs. The British core, of which Alli will be part, helps the fans feel closer to their club.

Alli himself recognises that Tottenham is the best place for him to continue his football development. His confidence is well-placed in Pochettino and Spurs. Mason, Bentaleb, Harry Kane and Danny Rose are all testament to that. 

Clint Hughes/Associated Press

Spurs' young team has endured some difficult moments. Defeat to Chelsea at Wembley was unpleasant, but the Europa League exit and the 3-2 loss to Liverpool at Anfield were more markedly immature defeats and essentially ended the club's competitive interest in this season.

Alli will not help with that.

His youth and relative inexperience won't help Spurs close out difficult fixtures, but that is not what he was signed for. Spurs identified and signed Alli, one of the most high-profile youngsters in the country, because they believe that they can help him develop into a world-class player.

Alli can be, essentially, a metaphor for Spurs. Their star players are made, not bought, and the same will be true of any prizes won by Pochettino's team.

The arrival of Alli in the summer is reason for Spurs fans to be excited about their future, but he will be just a part of Spurs' exciting young team. The future is bright for Tottenham.