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Mousa Dembele

Dembele has offer from China


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Quite frankly I have been waiting for a realistic story about Chinese clubs wanting one of our players and now it seems to have arrived.

Belgian news outlet Nieuwsblad are suggesting that five Belgian players have offers from Chinese clubs, 23-year-old Romelu Lukaku (Everton), 26-year-old Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), 29-year-old Dries Mertens (Napoli), 29-year-old Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur) and 29-year-old Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).

Lukaku's agent had confirmed his client could earn more by moving to China but wants to stay in Europe. The others they say have not made up their mind and no details of any offers have been released. They ran their article with a quote from the Tottenham midfielder.

"It is anyway a very difficult choice. For young players still have to grow, it is not wise to go down. For older players might is different. But honestly I have no idea about the level of football. It is hard to say. "

Teams in the Chinese Super League can only have three non-Asian players and most are choosing attackers or midfielders as they have more commercial value. It probably spells the end of any international career for a player going to a league with a low standard. It will take more than a few imports to improve the standard and will take years to bear fruit.

Mauricio Pochettino will have spoken to his players over offers and China and he doesn't believe any Spurs players will choose money over the level of competitive football they play, he made that clear when adsked the question just before Christmas.

"I don't believe it's a danger for us. My players like to play football and like to compete with the best in the world and the Premier League is a place to be competitive. 
"It would be strange for me if one of my players decided to move in that direction but it is different circumstances and I respect all opinions."







3 comments

  1. I would not like to see this player leave.
    That said, at 29 Mousa is approaching the twilight years of his career.
    One of only 3 (senior) players left from the 2012/2013 squad.
    Frankly, I feel the club did not exploit his potential during his initial seasons with us but, he has stayed the course and done what was asked of him.
    Perhaps, at this point in time, it’s only fair that he should consider an alternative opportunity should it arise.
    I, for one, would not begrudge him that opportunity.
  2. The club didn't, but I can't help feeling that putting the responsibility at the door of the club is a strange approach. Certainly for me, the responsibility is more with the player himself.

    That said of course, he has since shown that he's capable of recognising that responsibility and moving on by performing at a level more consistent with his obvious capabilities. Poch certainly had a hand in bringing that out of him, but I think a great deal of credit must go to the player himself.
  3. What BS... There's no evidence of offers from Chinese clubs for any of those players. The Belgian paper simply asked Dembele about it following Witsel's move to China. Nothing more to it than that.