Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, and former BBC radio pundit Noel Whelan believes that there is 'no doubt' that he would improve their midfield.

The Lowdown: Conte eyes attacking midfielder

As reported by journalist Alasdair Gold on his YouTube channel, Tottenham are eyeing both a centre-back and an attacking midfielder in the January transfer window, with Mac Allister now emerging as a potential option to fill the latter role in the team.

Spanish sources report, via Sports Mole, that Spurs are keeping a close eye on the Argentinian's development, with Fabio Paratici even considering a bid after being impressed by the player's performances for his national side at the Qatar World Cup.

The Latest: Whelan reacts

When posed a question about whether the 23-year-old would be able to come into this Tottenham side, 47 year-old Whelan told Football Insider:

“There’s no doubt about it, I’ve been so impressed with him.

“He’s shown real class in that central midfield area. The energy, the quality – it’s just another great bit of business from Brighton.

“Look at the money they’ve already made with Cucurella and Bissouma – you’d have to say that Mac Allister is next.

“He’s handled the Premier League pressure, he’s handled the Argentina pressure – and I can see him fitting into Antonio Conte’s style at Tottenham too.

“He’s very aggressive, gets into good areas, and comes up with goals as well. He’d be a massive plus for most Premier League sides.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Not only has the £48k-per-week earner impressed for the Seagulls, registering five goals in 14 Premier League outings this season, but he was a key component of the Argentina squad that emerged as World Cup winners on Sunday.

After coming into the team following a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the first group game, the £28m-rated maestro was a mainstay in the starting lineup, particularly impressing in the crucial final group game against Poland, scoring the opening goal and recording the joint-highest SofaScore rating, with an 8.2.

The 14-time Argentina international was also labelled 'absolutely outstanding' by sports writer Oliver Holt for his performance in the final, bagging an assist at the most crucial of times by laying on Angel Di Maria with a perfectly weighted ball, who made no mistake in converting to make it 2-0.

Mac Allister's stock will no doubt have risen after his displays in Qatar, and Spurs will likely have to fend off interest from elsewhere, but Antonio Conte should prioritise signing him in the January transfer window, as he is now a proven performer at the top level.