According to a report by Football Insider, Newcastle United will not pursue Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli in the upcoming January transfer window, despite previous rumours linking him with the club.

The Lowdown: Alli set to leave Spurs

Spurs have granted the player the opportunity to leave next month, permitting both permanent and temporary deals, but it is more likely that he will move on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 25-year-old has made just nine appearances in the Premier League this term, with only two of those coming under Antonio Conte. This includes a recent outing against Liverpool, where the midfielder played 81 minutes in Spurs’ 2-2 draw, receiving a 6.5 SofaScore rating.

Three years ago, Alli was worth a staggering £90m. However, a decline in game-time and form since then has seen his market value slip to just £22.5m. This illustrates the severity of the player's decline and suggests that Spurs bosses are finished with the midfielder, with him set to be offloaded in January if a potential suitor can be found.

The Latest: Newcastle will not pursue Alli

According to a fresh report by Football Insider, Newcastle will not go in for Alli in January, as Eddie Howe has rejected the chance to push for the player, deciding that he needs to prioritise other areas of his squad.

This news arises following previous reports that the Magpies had made initial enquiries with Spurs, but now it seems that Howe has had a change of heart and no longer considers Alli a transfer target. Instead, he is keen to brining in a more traditional midfielder, rather than an attacking one, along with a defender in a bid to bolster the spine of the team.

The Verdict: Newcastle move could have been good for both parties

Alli is looking to revive his career after suffering a stagnant few years at Tottenham. His former manager Jose Mourinho labelled the midfielder as ‘lazy’ and said that he created ‘problems for his own team’.

However, his talent is undeniable. Mourinho admitted that Sir Alex Ferguson gave him one bit of advice whilst he was in charge at Manchester United - ‘buy Dele Alli’. Even Brazil legend Roberto Carlos once said that the Spurs ace is ‘undoubtedly good enough for Real Madrid’.

If this talent was to be utilised in full force again, Alli could still prove to be a top-class player. With Newcastle often lacking an attacking threat in the final third, the 25-year-old could have been a fantastic addition for Howe if he hadn't shifted the focus to other areas of the squad.

In other news: Sky Sports journalist shares info as Newcastle eye potential 'brilliant signing'