Ex-Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour thinks his former club would be better off trying to sign Dele Alli from Tottenham rather than Chelsea’s Jorginho.

There were reports linking the Gunners with the Italian in the English press yesterday but when asked about the player, Parlour said he feels a move for Alli would be a better fit for manager Mikel Arteta, who needs more goals from midfield:

“I think he would be more of a fit than Jorginho. I’ve always said they’re (Arsenal) lacking goals from midfield. I don’t think Spurs would sell Dele Alli to Arsenal. I think there would be uproar by the Spurs fans if that happens, but he would certainly be a good fit for Arsenal.”

“I’m trying to put a figure in my head to say how much he would be worth, I would say £50m. I certainly believe that he’s got a lot of good years left in him as a player, so £50m has got to be the marker. One thing about Arsenal is I think they’re lacking goals from central midfield areas, so I think he could tick that box especially.”

Speculation over Alli’s future has increased in recent weeks, with Spurs manager Jose Mourinho having omitted the England international from the matchday squad for the 5-2 win against Southampton last weekend.

The 24-year-old did, though, start against Shkendija Tetovo in the Europa League qualifier last night and, as Parlour rightly points out, the likelihood of Tottenham selling one of their most high profile players to their fiercest rivals is very unlikely.

£50m would certainly be out of Arsenal’s price range too, considering they are currently unable to raise the funds for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey who is available for a similar fee.