Antonio Conte has revealed that it will be up to those above him to decide whether Dele Alli leaves Spurs as the midfielder continues to be linked with a loan move to Newcastle United.
Dele has made just one Premier League start since Conte was appointed in November and the former England international has not featured in any of Spurs' last three games.
Perhaps, tellingly, Dele was left out of the squad altogether for the game against Chelsea on Sunday, which was Spurs' final fixture before the mid-season window closes next week.
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Although clubs have been reluctant to loan players out, amid concerns their squads could be stretched by a potential COVID outbreak, Spurs are believed to be open to the possibility of Dele leaving in the final week of the window.
Conte was asked if he would be prepared to loan Dele out if the 25-year-old asked to go, but the Spurs' boss said that was a decision for chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici.
"I don't want to comment about single players," Conte told Sky Sports after his side's 2-0 defeat against Chelsea.
"There is the club to make the best decision on this aspect for the players that we are to buy or sell.
"There is also a sporting director and a chairman who I have to speak to and they take the last decision. It's right to speak to them - not me."
Newcastle actually attempted to sign Dele from MK Dons seven years ago but Spurs ultimately won the race to the highly-rated youngster in the mid-season window.
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