Everton are close to reaching an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur over a revised payment structure for Dele Alli.
Under the terms of Dele’s transfer from Tottenham to Everton in January 2022, the north London club were due a significant fee if the 28-year-old agreed a new contract at Goodison Park.
Dele is a free agent after his Everton contract expired at the end of last month. Discussions between Spurs and Everton are ongoing over a revised payment structure that would allow the Merseyside club to re-sign Dele should they wish. As part of this deal, Spurs are likely to retain a sell-on clause if Dele departs Everton for a fee in the future.
The Athletic reported in February that Everton and Spurs had been in discussions to amend the terms of the deal that brought him to the club in January 2022. Everton did not have to pay an immediate fee but it was agreed that a sum of £10million ($12.7m) would be due once he reached 20 appearances. He, however, only made 13 appearances across all competitions for Everton before his contract expired at the end of last month.
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Dele has not played for Everton since August 2022 due to various injuries but is back at Finch Farm as he continues his rehab from long-term problems, the most recent of which was a thigh issue.
Although he does not have a contract, Dele is hoping to impress and earn a new one. The possibility of him playing a role in pre-season has not been ruled out.
Dele had a loan spell at Besiktas in 2022 but returned to Everton after sustaining a significant hip injury. He has not played at all since February 2023 and, in the summer of that year, opened up on his mental health struggles and revealed he was sexually abused as a child.
During his time at Spurs, meanwhile, Dele made 269 appearances and scored 67 goals, earning the PFA Young Footballer of the Year twice.
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(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)