Lamela and Alli

Lamela and Alli

Dele Alli and Erik Lamela have returned to training early. Pre-season doesn't start for another week but these two are in the gym already.

It is a big year for both.

Erik Lamela is under pressure. He has given Spurs one good season since he arrived. To me he has been too much of a show pony. By that I mean he has been more interested in tricks and showing off basically that providing an end product.

As a result, he is available should someone offer the right price. Roma has looked to take him back every summer so far, be in a transfer or on loan.

Lamela does not want to leave Spurs, which will be why he is in early. It does suggest he has grasped that what he has produced isn't good enough for the level we want to be at. His mentality has not been the best and pre-season will be important to show Mauricio Pochettino that he is someone he can rely on.

There will be players ahead of him in the squad for his position by the end of the window, Giovani Lo Celso for one. He has to raise his game. There is no doubt the ability is there, he has it all technically, it's just his head. By the way, the Giovani Lo Celso deal will be £60 million (€68m - $76.81m plus add-ons.

Dele Alli, by his own admission, did not have the best of seasons. He was moved around the midfield and with the departure of Christian Eriksen this summer, he will be important to the side. He can create goals, he has vision around the box, but it is an area he can improve on.

Too many times he either plays the wrong ball or overhits a pass, which is down to concentration.

With a stronger squad this season I don't see Dele Alli being moved around so much and returning to top form next season.