The English press are suggesting Real Madrid are laying the goundwork to ferry Dele Alli away from Tottenham.

The Sun says the prospect of Alli signing for the Spanish giants has been touted in a soft article in Marca asking if the midfielder would be a good fit in Madrid, and in isolation there seems little merit to the piece.

But Marca has long been used as the mouthpiece of Real and often does the bidding of the club to help create momentum which results in the club getting their man.

It is a tried and tested process where Real unofficially sanction a series of stories, slowly drip feeding information and speculation linking themselves with a player.

A campaign begins to stir up interest, unsettle players and other clubs, all with the aim of ensuring they get their man.