Dele Alli could still play Premier League football before the end of the year despite Everton submitting their squad until January.
The former England international remains a free agent following the expiry of his Toffees contract but is still training with the club.
The 28-year-old hasn't been registered at Goodison Park since June but has been offered the opportunity to keep proving his fitness.
Dele has not played competitive football since a 0-0 draw against Antalyaspor in February 2023 while on loan at Besiktas.
The 37-cap England international's last appearance for Everton dates back even further to August 2022.
That was his 13th and final outing for the Toffees since arriving from Tottenham eight months prior due to injuries and off-field issues.
Dele detailed his inspirational comeback from childhood trauma that curtailed his career during an emotional interview in July 2023.
Thankfully for all involved, the attacking midfielder has been on the road to both a physical and mental recovery this year.
He can even still feature for Everton before January 2025 due to a special deadline day loophole.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks into Dele's situation.
Dele Alli: Transfer round-up
Tottenham and Everton agreement
When Dele left Tottenham to join Everton in January 2022, the Toffees didn't initially pay a fee.
Spurs would have been owed a payment had the player hit a certain threshold for appearances or signed a new contract with Everton.
The terms of Dele's original Goodison Park deal - which expired this summer - thus provided financial complications for cash-strapped Everton in offering him an extension.
However, Spurs agreed to restructure the agreement in July to waive the initial lump sum that would have been due with any new contract, and instead focused potential future payments on a sell-on fee and performance-related bonuses.
That paved the way for Dele to begin the process of negotiating fresh terms with Everton as he looks to prove his fitness.
He is training with Sean Dyche's side but as a free agent is therefore unable to play - even for the U21s to build sharpness.
Everton were said to be in the process of organising special matches to give Dele an opportunity to prove his fitness.
Deadline day loophole
Everton have submitted their 25-man squad up until February 2025.
Free agents can be immediately registered at any time throughout the year providing there's space or the player is under the age of 21.
Fortunately for Dele, Everton's transfer outgoings on deadline day have ensured the club are below the maximum threshold.
Everton sent Mason Holgate out on loan to West Brom, while Billy Crellin also went out on loan to Accrington Stanley.
The reserve goalkeeper is 24, so he would have counted as part of the senior squad, but because they've gone, there are two free spots.
What happens next?
Well, Everton's sporting director Kevin Thelwell has suggested that Dyche and Dele are keen for their relationship to continue.
He's currently a free agent but can sign a contract with Everton at any time.
Speaking about Dele, Thelwell told BBC Sounds last month: "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."
That trail appears to have gone cold in recent weeks, but Dele has been reportedly thrown a lifeline by a club in Italy.
According to Italian outlet Secolo XIX, Serie A side Genoa have sounded him out as a potential replacement for their injured midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi.
Meanwhile, Dele still believes that he can be a top Premier League player despite some difficult years dealing with injury and off-field issues.
"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.
“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."