The Tottenham Hotspur man is having a productive loan spell at PNE
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Preston North End supporters, by now, are used to the pain of seeing loan stars leave at the end of the season. In the case of Alfie Devine, the midfielder would be one of the toughest to watch walk away and not return.
Signed on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur, the youngster immediately caught the eye - scoring in the second game of the season at home to Leicester City. He has gone on to net eight goals and assist three, across 41 appearances.
For Devine, it represents a significant year in his development. He had his first taste of the Championship, two seasons ago, with Plymouth. On the back of a year in the Belgian top flight, though, the midfielder has now established himself in the second tier.
On the back of a brace and stand out performance against Stoke City, last time out, the Spurs man hit the headlines once again. There has been strong trust in the player from manager Paul Heckingbottom, who discussed Devine post-match.
“Alfie's a good, good player,” said Heckingbottom, to BBC Lancashire. “A good lad. I don't think we've seen the best of him. As good as he plays, I think there's more to come - he needs pushing. But I think with that as well, we have to understand it’s the most amount of minutes he's played in this league.
“It's tough... you're a young boy, you have peaks and troughs. Where we need to get him is that consistency of performance because he's got the ability, he's got the brain, he's got the talent to affect games positively, every single time he's on the pitch.”
The intrigue around Devine’s future is heightened due to North End’s option-to-buy him this summer. The fee is thought to be in the region of £4.5million, with PNE CEO Peter Ridsdale stating that personal terms have already been agreed.
Clearly, the transfer fee makes a deal look challenging for North End, whose record buy as a club is £2m~. Preston have the option but it would still require Devine to accept the move. He would not be obliged to do so.
Undoubtedly, the player will have his suitors in the summer. Like with most loan players at Preston, Devine has only spoken highly of his time at the club and, back closer to home, seems genuinely happy.
And yet, his career is still very much in its infancy. Devine has made two appearances for the Spurs first team and isn’t giving up on making his mark there.
"Yeah, definitely," said Devine to Sky Sports. "When you're at a club, I think your dream is always to play for them. Every single time I go back that is something I strive to do and that is my ambition. But, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.
“So, if that means another loan or whatever, it just depends what comes with it. I think it's probably the same as the rest of the boys coming in on loan. You have to find your way to get rhythm going in playing and training and then see where that takes you."