Will Ademola Lookman Become Another Dele Alli?

Comment by Odiko Godwin|Twitter: @OdikoGodwin

Both players joined the Premier League after impressing at English lower division sides; with Dele Alli joining Spurs from MK Dons. While, Everton bought Lookman from Charlton.



Dele Alli signed for Tottenham Hotspur in February 2015 for an initial fee of £5 million, being loaned back to Dons for the remainder of the season. In his first full campaign at Spurs, Alli was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year. He was ranked 8th in Gazzetta dello Sport list of the 50 best U20 footballers in January 2016, and in October of the same year, he was ranked as the best U21 talent in world football by FourFourTwo. He scored 10 League goals in 33 appearances that season for Spurs.

His second campaign at Spurs looks set to get even better; with a jaw dropping stat of 10 League goals from just 19 appearances for a midfielder. Dele Alli has become an instant hero with the Spurs faithfuls and his place irreplaceable in the Spurs starting eleven. His immediate impact and success at Spurs wasn't envisage by pundits /analyst, not even his manager, Mauricio Pochettino.

Dele Alli's ability to get into goal scoring positions and his remarkable finishing prowess has been praised and acknowledged not only by his boss at Spurs but also his national team boss Gary Southgate; who sees the 20-year old as pivotal to his plans for the Three Lions. Speaking to Sky Sport after their 2-0 win over Malta in October, Gary said: "I think number 10 is Dele's best position. He's a super link between the midfield and forwards and he is a goalscorer, that's one of his strengths."

Ademola Lookman look set to emulate fellow Anglo-Nigerian in achieving rapid success in the Premier League; with his debut goal against Pep Guardiola's City alerting the world of his potential.

Ademola Lookman Joined Everton from Charlton for a mammoth fee of £11 million pounds; showing the enormous talent embedded in him, commanding such a fee being just 19 and coming from a third tier English football club.

“Ademola is a big talent and, at 19 years old, he has a big future in the game. I’m really happy that we’ve been able to bring him here to the club," Ronald Koeman said after signing the lad.

Possessing great speed, skill and an eye for goal, Ademola Lookman has been backed by his manager to achieve success in the Premier League. “He can play from the left side, wide right and like a second striker. He’s fast, his movements are very dangerous. He’s a player who scores goals. He’s only 19 – it’s difficult for young players to come to the first-team level in the Premier League. But he is that type of young player who can make the step as soon as possible," Koeman told the press shortly after capturing the England U-20 player from Charlton.

There is therefore, no gain saying the fact that the lad would play a vital role in helping Everton achieve whatever target the football club set for themselves this season. But, it is his choice of Nationality, that many Nigerian football enthusiasts would be hoping he doesn't emulate Dele Alli - who chose England his place of birth over his root Nigeria.

England would be looking to secure his full allegiance early enough, having secured his commitment already at youth football level. It is now the job of the Nigerian Football Federation and sundry to ensure they convince the bright prospect that choosing Nigeria over England would be the right decision for him; as he must not emulate Dele Alli in that aspect.

Comments

  1. Dele Alli for me is the new Frank Lampard. As for Lookman, he just might find space in the Three Lions squad if he maintains his game.

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  2. It's sad to admit the fact; we are about to loose another great potential to our colonial masters yet again

    ReplyDelete

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