Dele Alli's future takes new twist that could see former England star secure Premier League return
There has been a further update on the future of Dele Alli as the former Tottenham Hotspur and Everton midfielder targets a return to the Premier League.
Dele has spent the last three seasons contracted to Everton after making the move to the Toffees in January 2022.
The English midfielder made 13 Premier League appearances for the Merseyside club but only made one start for the club during his three-year spell.
After picking up a serious injury while on loan at Besiktas in 2023, Dele spent the entirety of last campaign undergoing rehab at Everton where he remains today despite being released in the summer.
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The 28-year-old has been training with Everton's first team since Sean Dyche's team returned for pre-season in the summer in the hope that the England international could earn a contract with the club if he proved his fitness.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Everton's Director of Football Kevin Thelwell shed more light on the situation and provided a major update.
“We are in a good space now with Tottenham, we have an agreement with those guys about what happens next if we sign him and he would dearly love to play for Everton in the Premier League and we would dearly love that to happen as well because the boy has had a very difficult time," he explained.
Dele would be returning to an Everton side in serious dismay as they sit bottom of the table after losing all four of their opening Premier League games.
Despite being out of action at the top level for a number of years, in an appearance on Monday Night football last season, Dele stressed he believes he can get back to the top.
“I spoke about it in my interview and don't want to go over it too much again – but I know my level as a player and what I can get to," he said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
“I know how good I can be when my head is in the right place and I'm feeling good. Obviously, I'm disappointed with the injury right now but I'm excited to get playing.
“It's hard for me to even watch football. It's been tough for me, I'd say, this past eight months has been hard to watch.”
Alli added: “You know you can set reminders on your phone, I have a reminder at 11 o'clock every day that says, ‘World Cup 2026’. That's my aim for now. I think that people will be like, ‘he hasn't played in a year’ but I don't care, I know my level," he concluded.
Tom Jenkins