I hate the idea of Dembele dwindling on a bench somewhere. He deserves top-six football but also needs a starting place. He'd hardly get a game with the likes of Spurs, City or even United (although Fergie is an expert at rotating his squad.) There are quite a few decent players hidden away in Spurs' squad list who rarely step onto the pitch. I really rate Kranjcar, for instance.
I don't think he will dwindle on a bench: he'll be bought as a starting XI player because he's very good indeed. Dunno about deserving anything; the league would be much more interesting if European places were restricted to league champions, runners up, cup winners as in days of old
(I realise that would have deprived us of our greatest season). Clubs like us would have a better chance of keeping Dembélé or whoever. And the league would be a little more unpredictable.
I've loved watching him but don't feel any especial connection with him if that makes sense (Dempsey's been such a part of the club in his time with us, so that would feel different). If he's going I hope there's a quick, intense, bidding war and we get rid quickly. I'd rather not Defoe, but that's more to do with associating him with a group of England players than his usefulness to us as a goalscorer. Which he certainly is.
