The January transfer window was a mixed bag for Tottenham Hotspur, with a double deadline-day swoop making up for some disappointment earlier in the window.
Juventus duo Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur both sealed moves to north London on the final day of the transfer window, while Dele Alli was among those to leave either permanently on loan.
However, there was disappointment for Antonio Conte as his team was beaten to the punch on attempted deals for Adama Traore and Luis Diaz, who joined Barcelona and Liverpool respectively, while non-league sensation Ollie Tanner opted against trading the Isthmian League for the Premier League.
Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is a man who recognised the capabilities of non-league talents at a higher level, and the 74-year-old told Mirror Football he still considers it a conveyor belt for talent which Premier League clubs should pay more attention to.
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Back in the day, people forget when I managed Bournemouth, we would scour the non-league, it was our main area to sign players from," Redknapp told Mirror Football.
"When you look back on it, people forget that some of the greats have come out of non-league. Stuart Pearce, who for me became at one time the best left-back in the world, was playing at Wealdstone. Ian Wright was playing non-league football over at Greenwich, Les Ferdinand was playing at Hayes... it was a conveyor belt, so many players were coming out
"We're not talking about the division below the league, we're talking about way down, so there are still lads out there - I do think they're still there, given the opportunity and someone believing in them."
While Tanner was unable to agree personal terms with Spurs, despite the London side coming to an agreement of their own with Lewes, you don't have to look far away to see non-league representation in the Premier League.
West Ham are battling it out with Spurs for a top-four place thanks to the goals of Michail Antonio - once of Tooting & Mitcham - and former Hereford United forward Jarrod Bowen.
Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy, Ethan Pinnock and Max Kilman all have non-league football on their CVs, and Redknapp insists the quality is there if clubs put the time into looking for quality, be it in non-league or even just in the lower divisions of the pyramid.
"I don't think enough work goes into that any more," Redknapp says.
"The old scout who would go out - even as a manager, every night a week you'd be out watching games back in the day - you'd get in your car and drive to Plymouth, Exeter, wherever you were going, and you'd watch a game and try to pick up a player.
"There is still so much talent down in the lower leagues."
The former West Ham and Portsmouth boss was speaking as part of the Papa John's ‘Sign for Your Club’ campaign, which is giving fans an opportunity to earn a pro contract with one of a number of EFL or SPFL clubs.
Successful fans will receive an official squad number, attend a training session, and meet the manager of the club in question, as well as winning a £15,000 windfall for their club, with Redknapp scouring for England-based talent and former Scotland striker Ally McCoist doing the same north of the border.
An opportunity in the lower leagues can often precede Premier League success, and Dele Alli was one player to do just that.
The midfielder moved from MK Dons to Tottenham, eventually going on to play and score for England at the 2018 World Cup, but his time in north London came to an underwhelming end as he completed a deadline day switch to Frank Lampard's Everton.
"I love Dele Alli, I think he's an amazing talent. The challenge if you are a manager is to go and get him playing again," explains Redknapp.
"Something's gone wrong somewhere, it's such a waste of a talent and you just hope he's not got his feet under the table.
"Because for me he could be back in the England team, that's where he belongs, but someone somewhere - him, as well - they've got to turn it round and get him playing."
"It's the end of a chapter but not the book," Alli wrote after sealing his deadline day exit.
"Thank you for all the messages. I've had an incredible seven years at Tottenham and have made some life long friends that now feel like family!"
The 25-year-old was one of three signings made by new Everton boss Lampard, with Donny van de Beek joining on loan from Manchester United and young goalkeeper Billy Crellin arriving from Fleetwood Town.
Everton will pay nothing up front for Alli, but his 20th appearance for the club will trigger a £10m payment to Spurs and the fee could eventually rise to £40m.
