Key Points
- Tottenham have been described as lacking creativity, with one report citing the club’s fourth-lowest expected goals tally in the Premier League at 41.75.
- A report published by Tottenham Hotspur News argues that Roberto De Zerbi could use Alfie Devine as an internal solution to that issue next season.
- Devine has spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Preston North End after signing a new Tottenham contract in August 2025.
- Reports from early May 2026 say the young midfielder has made a strong impact in the Championship, with one source saying he has produced 15 goals and assists in 45 matches.
- Another update on 6 May 2026 said Devine had a “fantastic season” at Preston, with 48 games and 16 goal involvements.
- Tottenham’s own announcement confirmed the loan move for the 2025/26 campaign, reinforcing that he is due to return to the club this summer.
- The central argument is that Devine’s development in the Championship could give Tottenham a ready-made creative option without needing to buy externally.
Zerbi uses Alfie Devine (North London News), May 7, 2026, the biggest issue next season? That is the claim being made in the report, which says Spurs’ shortage of creativity could be addressed by the Warrington-born midfielder when he returns from Preston North End.
Why is creativity a concern at Tottenham?
Tottenham’s lack of creativity has been framed as a structural problem rather than a short-term dip. One report said Spurs produced the fourth-lowest expected goals figure in the Premier League, with 41.75, behind Wolves, Burnley and Sunderland.
The same article said that is a major concern for the club heading into the next campaign.
Another report from later in 2025 also described a creativity crisis at Spurs, showing that the issue has been discussed repeatedly across different outlets.
How has Devine performed at Preston?
Devine’s loan spell at Preston has been presented as productive and important for his development. Tottenham announced on 7 August 2025 that he had signed a new contract and joined Preston North End on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.
Wikipedia’s record of his career also says he joined Preston on a season-long loan after extending his Tottenham deal, and it notes that he scored on his home debut against Leicester City.
A May 2026 report said he had become an “excellent box-to-box player” and had contributed 15 goals and assists in 45 matches for Preston.
Another update the following day said he had 48 games and 16 goal involvements, underlining that he has played a substantial role for the Championship side.
Why might De Zerbi value him?
The report’s logic is that Devine could offer Tottenham something they have lacked in midfield. The claim is not that he is already a finished Premier League solution, but that his form at Preston suggests he could fit into a more creative role next season.
Because he is due to return to Spurs this summer, the club could test him in pre-season before deciding whether to rely on him more heavily.
The attraction for a manager like Roberto De Zerbi would be having an internal player who has already gained senior experience and shown output in a competitive league.
What do the reports actually say?
The main report directly states that De Zerbi
“could utilise Alfie Devine to solve Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest issue next season.”
It adds that Spurs have lacked creativity all season and that Devine’s Championship form at Preston has sparked clamour for a first-team berth.
Another source similarly said he has “made a significant impact” on loan and could be part of Tottenham’s future plans.
Tottenham’s own announcement confirms the player’s contract extension and loan arrangement, which matters because it shows the club still considers him part of its longer-term project.
Background of the development
Alfie Devine joined Tottenham from Wigan Athletic’s youth system in 2020 and made his senior debut in January 2021.
He has since had loan spells at Port Vale, Plymouth Argyle, Westerlo and Preston North End, which shows a gradual pathway aimed at building experience.
Tottenham’s August 2025 announcement of a new contract before the Preston loan suggested the club wanted to secure his future while he developed elsewhere.
That background helps explain why his return this summer is being discussed as more than a routine squad update.
Prediction for Spurs fans
For Tottenham supporters, Devine’s return could matter if the club wants a younger, lower-cost answer to its creativity problems rather than relying only on the transfer market.
If his Preston form translates to Premier League level, he could become a rotation option or a more regular midfield presence.
If he struggles to make the step up, Tottenham may still view his loan as a useful development phase rather than an immediate solution.
Either way, the development gives the club a credible in-house option at a time when creativity has been widely identified as a weakness.
