Alfie Devine backed for Premier League return already after Tottenham exit

Alfie Devine will be playing Premier League football in no time after his Tottenham exit.

That is the view of Lilywhites expert John Wenham, who was reacting to the departure.

Spurs sold the promising young midfielder for a fee of £6million to Preston, where he spent last season on loan.

Wenham had previously told Tottenham News that he thought that Devine would stay in N17.

However, it appears that circumstances changed, given that Spurs signed Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

That opened the door for the 21-year-old to depart as he was not going to get a chance in Roberto De Zerbi's side.

Why has former Tottenham gem Alfie Devine been tipped for Premier League return?

Wenham believes that it was the right move for all parties and thinks that the player will be back in the top-flight in the next two years.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: "I think Tottenham got a good deal in the end out of that, a £6m sale, Preston's record ever purchase, and 20 per cent sell on clause on anything over £6m in the future.

"I think that was a good deal for all parties. Had we gone down, I could have seen Devine starting for us, that's how fine margins are in football, and now that we've stayed up and we're operating in a way we've never done so before.

"I wish him well. I think he'll be a very good player at Preston, and I expect him to be back in the Premier League within two seasons, if he continues his path of development last year that was really, really good.

"At Tottenham he just wasn't going to get a look-in, and I think it was the correct time for all parties, and it was a really good, quick and prompt sale that adds to our fantastic business in terms of selling players this summer as well."

What do the stats say about Devine prediction?

Devine's stats in the Championship last season suggest that Wenham's conclusion may well come true in the near future.

He notched eight goals and six assists in 45 league matches for the Lancashire side, but those numbers do not tell the full story.

From his attacking midfield position, he completed 2.42 shots and 1.47 chances created on a per 90 minute basis, according to data from Fotmob.

He did not mind putting in a shift defensively either, averaging 1.41 tackles, 4.38 recoveries and 1.30 clearances per match.

Those numbers should only get better, and could pique interest from an elite side in the future.