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They were had off by a cheeky Jamie Vardy gesture this week, but a new stadium has been a game-changer for Tottenham Hotspur and in their final visit to that venue before they move to their own future home, Everton must hope their switch can have a similar impact.

After being barracked by the travelling Spurs supporters in Monday night’s game at the King Power Stadium, veteran Leicester City striker Vardy, whose earlier equaliser earned his side a 1-1 draw, pointed to the Premier League logo on his shirt sleeve while being substituted and made a ‘1-0’ sign in reference to the number of times he had won the competition with the Foxes compared to the north London side.

Like Evertonians who know their history, some Tottenham fans indignantly pointed out that their club are in fact 2-1 up on Leicester when it comes to League Championship triumphs. However, while they were the first club in the 20th century to do ‘The Double’ and also the first English team to lift a European trophy, Spurs better hope luminaries such as Wolverhampton Wanderers (three titles, the last in 1959); Huddersfield Town (three titles, the last in 1926); Sheffield Wednesday (four titles, the last in 1930); or Sunderland (six titles, the last in 1936) don’t start to pull rank in this respect.

Like the way Newcastle United were viewed in their swashbuckling but empty-handed days under Kevin Keegan in the 1990s, which many Blues found particularly irksome, Spurs have long enjoyed a reputation that seems rather more inflated than their on-the-pitch accomplishments have tangibly merited.

Much of the phenomenon seems to have stemmed from them being based in the capital and therefore being a darling with the national-based media which in turn has also helped foster something of a special relationship with the England team (they’ve provided 79 players for the Three Lions over the years, more than any other club).

Indeed, when Everton thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in the 1995 FA Cup semi-final at Elland Road, Blues boss Joe Royle told the assembled press pack: “Sorry about your dream final (against Manchester United), lads, but b*****s to it. And that’s with a double ‘l’!” While it’s one of the great intangibles in the game, ‘size’ still matters in football – just look at the reaction to Richard Masters’ remark about Everton and Nottingham Forest back in January.

If you’d have asked this correspondent a few years ago, who was the bigger club, Everton or Tottenham Hotspur, I’d have answered quickly and emphatically in favour of the former with no sense of doubt or concerns that my judgement was being clouded.

As someone old enough to remember when only neighbours Liverpool had won more League Championships than the Blues, I’ve lived through seeing Arsenal, Manchester United and now even nouveau riche Manchester City all eclipse them on that front (unless those 115 charges come back to haunt Sheikh Mansour with the likes of Brendan Rodgers and company potentially being retrospectively handed some medals).

Although Everton are still well ahead of Spurs on title front (9-2 for those who don’t know), that doesn’t win you matches in 2024 as we saw so emphatically last weekend when Brighton & Hove Albion, a club who have never won a single major honour in their 123-year history, romped to a 3-0 win to spoil the party in the opening fixture of Goodison Park’s final season. In pretty much every other parameter that defines club size, the Blues now find themselves lagging far behind the lilywhites.

When the Premier League was formed back in 1992, both Everton and Spurs were considered to be part of the ‘Big Five,’ but that group has now evolved to the so-called ‘Sky Six’ with the Blues dropping out and the aforementioned Manchester City and Chelsea having been added.

Whatever you think of the phrase, it’s an economic reality, even with Newcastle United now being backed by the sovereign wealth fund of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As Vardy alluded to, Spurs are the only one of that half dozen not to have been Premier League champions, but their financial status has been elevated by the construction of their billion-pound arena. One crown that they surely do possess is the title of having the best sports stadium this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Today, Everton make what will be their final Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (incredibly, for all Daniel Levy’s fabled business acumen, over five years on from opening it still doesn’t have a sponsors’ name) before they make their own switch to Bramley-Moore Dock.

The Blues’ future home won’t be quite as fancy as Spurs’ and architect Dan Meis declared: “It is a simple building, it’s very functional, a Ferrari not a Bentley,” but that silver curved barrel roof still looks good when it shimmers on the days that the sun shines by the banks of the Mersey and with its riverfront location it is in a far more iconic setting as part of Liverpool’s world famous panoramic maritime cityscape.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Goodison is now in the Premier League’s bottom three venues when it comes to generating matchday revenue but when the Blues relocate to Vauxhall, they’ll not only have the opportunity to play in front of the biggest regular crowds in their entire history, but the number of premium seats will increase from around 1,300, approximately 3% of the overall capacity, to 5,500, over 10% of a ground which in turn is a third bigger to start with at a venue which can potentially be used every day of the year for other money-making ventures. S

Former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas has spoken out following his sacking by the BBC

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Jermaine Jenas has been dropped by the BBC amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour. The 41-year-old, known for his roles on The One Show and as a pundit on Match of the Day, was released from his duties with the broadcaster earlier this week.

A complaint about text messages sent to a female colleague last month led to an internal investigation, as reported by the Mirror. On Thursday at 3.39pm, Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski emailed staff stating: "I wanted to let you know that Jermaine Jenas is no longer working for the BBC."

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A BBC spokesperson confirmed: "We can confirm that he is no longer part of our presenting lineup."

Jenas, through his representative, said: "Right now I can't talk about it. I can tell you I'm not happy - there are two sides to every story - and I'm going to be speaking with my lawyers on the issue", reports Football London.

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The Mirror has revealed that the reason behind Jenas' departure is related to claims of inappropriate conduct with a female BBC employee. According to BBC News, the allegations concern digital communications, including text messages.

Besides his recent TV work, Jenas was also the face of MOTDx, a show aimed at younger audiences which has since been cancelled. Before transitioning into broadcasting, he enjoyed a successful football career with Tottenham, QPR, Newcastle, and represented England 21 times.

Nonetheless, as the saga of his BBC departure unfolds, Jenas has already embarked on a new venture and joined talkSPORT as its lead presenter, collaborating with another ex-Premier League footballer, Jermaine Pennant, to co-host their drive-time programme.

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Despite this bump in his career roadmap, Jenas had harboured hopes of taking over as host on 'Match of the Day', candidly admitting in 2021: "Match Of The Day is the biggest job on television, and if I ever got the opportunity of course I'd say yes."

Jenas also speculated on the future, saying: "When Gary decides to call it a day, I'm sure the BBC will have a look around and decide who's the best fit for the job."

James Tarkowski has been an ever-present for Everton but is now in a battle against time to feature against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday

James Tarkowski is a doubt for Everton’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur due to concerns over a hamstring issue. The centre-back has not trained this week and is set to be assessed on Friday during the final preparations for Saturday’s match.

It is the second injury of the summer for Tarkowski, who left Everton’s fitness camp in Ireland early due to a glute complaint that cost him part of the pre-season.

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The defender, captain in the absence of Seamus Coleman, has been an ever-present since signing for the club two years ago and featured in every Premier League game last season.

Speaking at Finch Farm, Sean Dyche described Tarkowski's issue as "a minor hamstring niggle that we have to be careful with".

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The Blues boss said the player had been positive about his situation on Thursday and will be assessed on Friday to see whether he can feature against Spurs.

James Tarkowski’s injury comes amid wider problems at the back for Dyche.

He has to contend with injuries that have ruled senior right-backs Nathan Patterson and Coleman out of the start of the campaign as well as James Garner, who has played on the right of defence for Everton and England Under-21s.

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Dyche said some of the injured players could be re-assessed on Friday but that neither Coleman, Patterson nor centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who had surgery on a groin issue at the start of the summer, are in contention for a return in north London.

Press conference recap

Well, there was a lot covered there!

Sean Dyche, understandably, couldn't give much of a takeover update. Let's face it, the only man with the answers is Farhad Moshiri.

Dycyhe said he doesn't expect a busy end to the transfer window but was playful when asked about Kieran Trippier, the Newcastle United and England right-back who is said to be interesting Everton.

The other big line came regarding injuries. Already without a number of players for the tricky trip to Tottenham Hotspur, Dyche revealed stand-in skipper James Tarkowski is a doubt. That is the last thing the Blues need considering they are already with fellow centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and all three established right-backs.

There was also an update on Dele Alli.

Read it all above.

Dyche on Dele, experience and supporters leaving early

Dyche is now talked about experience. He says the game "is more unforgiving" now and that giving young players or inexperienced players opportunities in the Premier League is much more difficult than it may previously have been. It is not just about their development and ensuring they are ready, it is also abnout ensuring there is the strength around them to protect them.

Asked specifically about the U21s he continues on the theme of protecting players who may not be ready before shifting his answer onto Tim Iroegbunam, who did make his debut at the weekend.

Now on Dele: "He is just not ready for that yet." - that is on the topic of behind closed doors games.

On his post-Brighton comments about the empty seats at Goodison at the end of the Brighton match: "I have never criticised the fans here." He says he was describing the reality of Everton's plight at that moment and how he could understand why supporters may have wanted to leave early with Everton 2-0 down and down to 10 men in the closing stages against Brighton.

James Tarkowski a doubt for the weekend

Dyche says he has just 14 senior players to choose from this weekend. Hopefully he will give further detail on that. Asked about Brighton, he was pleased with the match until what he describes as two big mistakes.

Asked about Jarrad Branthwaite: “He is still a bit away. He is not close at the moment.”

James Tarkowski is a doubt for the weekend, he adds.

Dyche talks takeover and transfers

Hello - Sean Dyche is in the room and we are underway. It’s a good start - last year he complained about the heat in the room and he acknowledges it is cooler today.

Sky, as ever, kickstart the questions and we begin on the subject of off-field matters - the ownership situation. Sky ask whether Dyche has had any update on the Moshiri/Textor talks.

Dyche says he does not know much about what is happening, He is aware of Textor being in the conversation but that is it.

How would a new owner affect him? He plays down any impact aside from finances and budget and what impact that might have on the club and its efforts.

Moving onto finance - does he expect a busy final week of the transfer window? Dyche says it is ‘unlikely’. He talks about the new signings but then very quickly goes towards urging caution about their readiness for the Premier League - adding that Ndiaye, Lindstrom and Iroegbunam had few minutes of first team football between them.

Dyche is not expecting senior departures at this stage. Asked about a potential incoming - Kieran Trippier, he plays that down and talks about how “mysterious” it is that a right back comes into reports as Everton need one.

All set at Finch Farm

It's a glorious afternoon in the Finch Farm microclimate and I'm in the press room at the training ground - fresh from showing off some reverse parking skills to the car park stewards and having managed not to clip Robbie the Robot, who is out trimming one of the training pitches as we speak.

So, what to expect? Well, transfers, injuries and probably a bit of takeover. Uncertainty continues to reign over the precise nature of talks between John Textor and Farhad Moshiri. Dyche may be asked about that but there will be little he is likely to be able to say.

Injuries will be the main topic - Dyche told me after Brighton that he did not expect to have James Garner, Seamus Coleman or Nathan Patterson available for Spurs on Saturday. That question was asked in the context of the right back crisis created by Ashley Young's red card (I know, I know, plenty of you are reading and thinking there was a crisis in that position even before the veteran dragged back Kaoru Mitoma). Jarrad Branthwaite is not a solution to that problem but his progress will also be a line of enquiry.

Then transfers - David Ornstein has said Everton are among a clutch of clubs interested in Kieran Trippier. What else will we have in store in a week that has seen Everton reject an approach from Marseille for Neal Maupay.

Let's see.

Welcome, Blues

Let's try that again, shall we?

After a disastrous start to the new season, Everton have chance to make amends quickly away at Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Sean Dyche was a little spiky speaking to the media after the match, so it will be intriguing to see what he has to say come Thursday afternoon.

It could be a tense one. Stick with us...

Sean Dyche has been presented with a tough call for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur as he weighs up how to deal with one of the league's best attackers in an area beset by injury and suspension

Sean Dyche heads to Tottenham Hotspur with a problem. A run of injuries and the suspension of Ashley Young has left him devoid of experience on the right of defence. The timing could barely be worse - fitness concerns elsewhere on the pitch will pile additional pressure on the player entrusted with managing one of the most effective left-sided attackers in world football.

Who he can trust to deal with Heung-Min Son will dominate his thoughts as Everton plan for a trip to Spurs - where Dyche’s side produced one of their best displays last season, albeit one that ended in a controversial defeat.

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Here are his options.

Transfers, injuries and suspension - who he cannot pick

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Full-back has become an increasingly problematic area for Everton during Dyche’s reign. But while there may be some justification to the argument it is a longstanding issue that should have been resolved by now, it is important to reflect the wider context. Club captain Seamus Coleman played most of pre-season and, while he sat out the Preston North End friendly win with a knee complaint he made an immediate return for the following game against Motherwell.

It was then during the first half of the final summer friendly with Roma that he pulled up with the calf issue that has now interrupted his start to the season. Coleman is 35 and played just 12 times in the league last year so betting on him being able to triple that this time around is a big ask.

It is also one it was hoped would be unnecessary when Nathan Patterson joined from Rangers in January 2022. While he has enjoyed bursts of games, most notably under Frank Lampard at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, his time on Merseyside has been blighted by injury. He ended last season with a hamstring issue that required surgery and which he is now in the later stages of recovery from.

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Coleman and Patterson’s persistent injuries problems led to Ben Godfrey playing at right back earlier this year. That option is now unavailable following his sale to Atalanta, though his use on the right was an imperfect solution. Ashley Young, who is also the senior cover on the left for Vitalii Mykolenko, was offered a new deal because of his versatility and experience and the hope was Everton could muddle through this year before addressing the issue next summer.

But the torrid time Kaoru Mitoma gave him on Saturday, culminating in his red card, means he is not an option for the trip to Spurs and may cast his ability to be an option in a slightly different light. All of the issues mentioned so far have been longstanding ones but Dyche may well have hoped that, should the need be as great as it now it is, he could turn to James Garner.

Garner has experience on the right side of defence and one of his best displays for Everton came in that position against Bournemouth on the final day of the season before last, when the Blues kept a clean sheet in the narrow victory needed to secure survival. But Garner is also out with a calf injury. Following the Brighton defeat, Dyche said he was not expecting to have any of Coleman, Patterson or Garner available for the next match.

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Mason Holgate the most likely square peg in a round hole?

This leaves Mason Holgate as the obvious solution. Holgate is a centre back by trade but Dyche has few options available to him and he has used the 27-year-old as a right back before - selecting him ahead of a then-fit Patterson to deal with Jordan Ayew at Crystal Palace in April 2023.

Holgate did not last the 90 minutes, however, after picking up two yellow cards in the goalless draw at Selhurst Park. His Everton future remains in the air after a season spent on loan first at Southampton and then at Sheffield United. He came on towards the end of the Brighton defeat and Dyche later acknowledged this was partly in view of having to potentially play him at right back next week, explaining: “The squad is what it is. We have added to it and tried to find a balance but have been a bit unfortunate with injuries.”

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Should Dyche want to stick to a flat back four then Holgate offers him Premier League experience and a player who has spent some time on the right, even if it is not his best position.

Jack Harrison and a formation change could provide an alternative solution

An alternative solution would be to switch formation. Dyche has shown a willingness to do this when injuries have forced him away from his preferred 4-5-1 setup, including at Burnley last December when Godfrey and Michael Keane entered the fray amid issues at the back.

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Moving to three centre backs may provide him with more defensive confidence given he is already dealing with an injury to Jarrad Branthwaite. Such a move could pave the way for Jake O’Brien to earn his first Premier League minutes alongside Keane and James Tarkowski and would probably see Jack Harrison deployed at right wing back.

While he is an attacker - who caused Brighton issues in the first half - he is trusted by Dyche because of his work-rate and willingness to play a defensive role and so moving him to wing-back might be the best compromise on offer.

Roman Dixon and where the academy starlet could fit into Dyche’s thinking

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One solution that has captured momentum is the option to turn to the academy setup. Roman Dixon started at right back for the Under-21s on Friday as they kickstarted their Premier League 2 campaign with a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.

The 19-year-old was impressive going forward and linked up well with right winger Isaac Heath. The pair combined after 120 seconds, with Dixon getting to the byline and pulling the ball back for Heath to open the scoring. Fifteen minutes later Dixon was on the right corner of the box when he looked to bend a ball behind the centre backs for Francis Okoronkwo to flick on. Okoronkwo did not quite get a toe on the ball but he was close enough for Blackburn keeper and former Blue Jack Barrett to anticipate a touch and be left wrong-footed when it was not applied - providing Dixon with a goal.

The teenager is earmarked as having potential and spent parts of the summer with the first team squad. His pace is one of his best attributes and there is excitement about his progress. But there is a sense he is still learning his trade and there were times Blackburn caused problems when they attacked down Everton’s right on Friday night.

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Dixon still remains a player with limited experience, having spent last season with the U21s earning his stripes at PL2. The two matches he played 90 minutes against senior opposition came in the EFL Trophy and Everton lost both.

Within the England setup he came off the bench in the elite squad’s win over Sweden this summer, a game in which Norwich City’s Kellen Fisher - who has made 11 first team appearances across the Championship and FA Cup last season - started at right back. That experience does matter to Dyche, who used a lack of Premier League experience to justify his limited use of some of his new signings against Brighton - signings that have built up significant first team experience elsewhere.

Sean Dyche was quizzed about who could start at right-back for Everton against Tottenham Hotspur with four players who have played in that position ruled out

Everton will head to Tottenham Hotspur amid a crisis in defence. Ashley Young will be suspended for the trip to London on Saturday following his straight red card in the disastrous opening day defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.

It means fifth-choice centre-back Mason Holgate may now fill the role next the weekend - unless Sean Dyche opts for a tactical reshuffle.

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That is because alternative options Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson and James Garner are all injured and, Blues boss Dyche said after the 3-0 loss to Brighton, unlikely to be fit to return.

Patterson is in the final stages of recovery after hamstring surgery while Garner, a central midfielder who has played on the right of defence for Everton and England Under-21s, and Coleman both have calf issues that were picked up in pre-season.

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Dyche has used Holgate at right back in the past - though the experiment ended prematurely when he was sent off while in that position at Crystal Palace the season before last.

Asked whether he was favourite to operate there at Spurs, the manager acknowledged Holgate’s introduction late in this defeat was with that in mind.

Dyche said: “Yeah, the squad is what it is. We have added to it and tried to find a balance but have been a bit unfortunate with injuries.

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“None of them, apart from Youssef [Chermiti’s], are drastic but they are all two or three weeks and that can cost you at this early stage when you’ve got the games coming and have just finished pre-season.”

Asked whether he could turn to the academy - England youth prospect Roman Dixon scored one and created another for the Under-21s against Blackburn on Friday and was around the senior setup during pre-season - Dyche said: “It’s a big ask for under-21s to dive straight in but we’ll certainly have to look at the best available options.

“Certainly for the next week. You never know for the cup game and two weeks' time.”

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After the visit to Tottenham Hotspur, Everton return to Goodison Park to take on League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke is set to join Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £60m

Dominic Solanke could become the sixth-most expensive sale in Liverpool’s history as Tottenham Hotspur close in on a move for the one-time England international. Spurs have reportedly agreed a deal in the region of £60m with AFC Bournemouth to sign the striker.

The 26-year-old joined the Cherries from the Reds in January 2019, departing for an initial £19m fee after just eight months at Anfield.

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However, Liverpool have received £24m for Solanke to date, with the ECHO reporting back in November 2021 that all the add-ons that were included in the deal which took the striker to the Vitality Stadium have been activated, with most having been physically paid up to that point.

The Reds also negotiated a 20% sell-on clause into the deal that took the striker to Bournemouth, and look set to receive a significant windfall courtesy of his big-money move to Tottenham.

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While such a clause is limited to profit only, the Cherries are still set to sell the forward for £41m more than their initial outlay back in 2019.

Consequently, if the sell-on is applied to profit on that initial price and a £60m fee is indeed accurate, they could find themselves entitled to a further £8.2m. Even if it applies only to profit after the aforementioned add-ons, Liverpool would still receive £7.2m.

As a result, Solanke’s overall fee when leaving the Reds is set to rise over £30m and could even stand at £32.2m - £13.2m more than his original transfer fee.

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The striker is currently Liverpool’s 10th most expensive sale in the club’s history, with the add-ons included £24m already seeing him overtake Danny Ings and Rhian Brewster in the Reds’ list of record sales.

But he could now also leapfrog Sadio Mane, Christian Benteke, Xabi Alonso and Mamadou Sakho.

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The Belgian joined Crystal Palace for an initial £27m, rising to £32m with add-ons, in August 2016. Meanwhile, while the Senegalese departed in a deal worth up to £35m to Bayern Munich in June 2022, his subsequent departure after just one disappointing season ensured the majority of add-ons on the initial £27.5m were not required to be paid.

Alonso cost Real Madrid £30m in August 2009, while Sakho left in a £26m deal to Crystal Palace in August 2017.

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Only Philippe Coutinho (£142m), Luis Suarez (£65m), Fernando Torres (£50m), Raheem Sterling (£49m) and Fabinho (£40m) will have been sold for bigger fees than Solanke in Liverpool’s history.

However, Joe Gomez did see a £45m switch to Newcastle United collapse in June, in a swap deal that would have seen Anthony Gordon move the other way in a separate £75m transfer.

When you consider Coutinho, Suarez, Torres, Sterling and Fabinho were all star players for Liverpool, the fact they can claim to have received potentially £32m for Solanke - a fringe striker who scored once for the club from 27 appearances - makes it even more a remarkable deal than when the Reds first signed off on his £19m exit five and a half years ago.

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Solanke initially suffered a slow start with Bournemouth, but shone following their relegation to the Championship as he scored 30 goals in all competitions to help them win promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Replicating such form in the Premier League last season, he scored 21 goals from 42 appearances with such form attracting the interest of Tottenham in the first place. Solanke will leave Bournemouth having scored 77 goals from 216 appearances for the club following his Liverpool exit in 2019.

Everton have reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur over Dele Alli, giving Sean Dyche the green light to help the player work towards what would be a remarkable football comeback. Everton originally signed Dele on January 31, 2022, in a highly-incentivised move with Tottenham Hotspur that could have eventually seen them shell out up to £40million in transfer fees but that two-and-a-half year contract expired at the end of last month with the 28-year-old becoming a free agent.

The ECHO understands that under the new arrangement, the Blues – who were seven games shy of the first £10million payment being due under the original deal – are not required to pay a further fee should they offer the midfielder a new contract and although Dele is not yet ready to return to full training with Everton’s squad as he continues his rehabilitation from a groin injury that prevented him from playing last season, the plan is for him to travel to Ireland with the first team group this week.

Dele has not played a competitive game since he was hooked at half-time of Besiktas’ goalless draw at home to Antalyaspor on February 26, 2023, a game that saw former Everton striker Cenk Tosun miss a last-minute penalty, and the injured midfielder’s loan spell in Istanbul being cut short with him returning to Finch Farm in April that year. His last Blues outing was when he came on as a substitute in their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on August 13, 2022, the same day that Amadou Onana made his debut.

However, after an interview with Gary Neville which came out this time last year, in which he spoke frankly about a number of off-the-field issues he suffered throughout both his childhood and adult life, the Milton Keynes-born player surprised many in April by telling Sky Sports that he is still targeting playing for England in the 2026 World Cup finals, proclaiming: “People will be like ‘he hasn't played in a year’ but that's my aim. I know where my level is.”

While the famous CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland calculated that Dele was the most-valuable midfielder in the world back in 2018, he has not been close to reaching those levels at Everton, failing to complete 90 minutes in any of his 13 matches for the club and starting just once, in the 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on the final day of the 2022/23 season after Frank Lampard’s side had achieved Premier League safety. Dyche acknowledges that the player has got a long way to go after his dramatic fall but having vowed to leave no stone left unturned when first appointed in trying to cure Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s long-standing fitness issues and being rewarded with 39 games in all competitions from the striker last season after what the Sheffield-born star described as a “factory reset”, the Blues boss is understood to be determined to help Dele as best he can when it comes to getting his life and career back on track.

The duo – who grew up just 30 miles from each other – had several long conversations last season and even bonded over talking tactics, with Dyche saying: “He was very informed and telling me what he thought.” On a separate occasion, the former Burnley manager said: “Dele brought something up I thought was really important and shared it with the players. We were having an honest conversation and he described it really well, this idea of direct play, people presuppose that means kicking the ball down the pitch – no it doesn’t – and he was on it straight away.

“He said: ‘I get exactly what you mean. Can you play forwards as a first thought?’

Outsiders with preconceptions about them both might struggle to pair them as kindred spirits but while Dyche has publicly declared: “Why fight the box you’re put in?”, he is much more layered than his prevailing image of merely being a harsh taskmaster.

Asked last August how Everton deal with the Dele’s situation and how important the pastoral side of the care was, Dyche said: “Well he thought very well. I saw his interview and I thought he spoke very positively and fairly about what we’d tried to support him with, and I think he’s come through it well in his own grounds, not just on any support we’ve given him.

“I remember saying in an interview probably seven or eight years ago I think with Henry Winter, he said: ‘What do you think the future is?’ and I said health and well-being because of the demands of the job, the demands of social media, the demands of modern football life as a player are getting harder all the time. That was my truth then and it still is.

“I think it is a future of what’s going on. I think the health and well-being, the mental well-being is going to be a big part of the future of football.”

Sean Dyche is hoping he can bring about a spectacular revival in Dele’s career with Everton close to reaching an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur over a revised payment structure for the midfielder but the Blues are set to miss out on Jaden Philogene.

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 and as first reported by the Athletic, discussions between Everton and Spurs are ongoing over a revised payment structure that would allow the Blues to re-sign Dele should they wish and 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 ECHO understands that Everton chiefs are now close to reaching an agreement with their Tottenham counterparts over the matter which would give the green light for Dele – who is training at Finch Farm as the Blues offer him assistance over the groin injury that prevented him from playing last season – to potentially make a formal return to the club. Dyche, who vowed to leave no stone unturned when it came to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s long-standing fitness issues when he was first appointed, overseeing a regime that the striker described as a “factory reset” last summer that was rewarded with the player turning out 39 times in all competitions, is relishing the challenge of potentially getting Dele’s career back on track.

The famous CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland calculated that he was the most-valuable midfielder in the world back in 2018. However, despite his heavily-incentivised move from Tottenham Hotspur to Everton being potentially worth up to £40million, having played just 13 matches for the Blues, starting just once and failing to complete 90 minutes, no transfer payments were ever required.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa appear to have won the race for Hull City winger Philogene. Everton insiders said on Tuesday that they had a deal in place to sign the 22-year-old and the player – whose agent posted a photograph of himself at the Blues’ Finch Farm training ground – wanted to join them.

However, despite Crystal Palace – who are seeking a replacement for Michael Olise following his move to Bayern Munich – and newly-promoted Ipswich Town also being in the hunt for the England Under-21 wide man, Villa, who sold their former academy graduate to the Tigers for an undisclosed fee understood to be in the region of £5million on September 1 last year, have activated the matching rights clause and are now expected to re-sign Philogene next week for a £18million fee.

Sean Dyche is hoping he can bring about a spectacular revival in Dele’s career with Everton close to reaching an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur over a revised payment structure for the midfielder but the Blues are set to miss out on Jaden Philogene.

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 and as first reported by the Athletic, discussions between Everton and Spurs are ongoing over a revised payment structure that would allow the Blues to re-sign Dele should they wish and 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 ECHO understands that Everton chiefs are now close to reaching an agreement with their Tottenham counterparts over the matter which would give the green light for Dele – who is training at Finch Farm as the Blues offer him assistance over the groin injury that prevented him from playing last season – to potentially make a formal return to the club. Dyche, who vowed to leave no stone unturned when it came to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s long-standing fitness issues when he was first appointed, overseeing a regime that the striker described as a “factory reset” last summer that was rewarded with the player turning out 39 times in all competitions, is relishing the challenge of potentially getting Dele’s career back on track.

The famous CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland calculated that he was the most-valuable midfielder in the world back in 2018. However, despite his heavily-incentivised move from Tottenham Hotspur to Everton being potentially worth up to £40million, having played just 13 matches for the Blues, starting just once and failing to complete 90 minutes, no transfer payments were ever required.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa appear to have won the race for Hull City winger Philogene. Everton insiders said on Tuesday that they had a deal in place to sign the 22-year-old and the player – whose agent posted a photograph of himself at the Blues’ Finch Farm training ground – wanted to join them.

However, despite Crystal Palace – who are seeking a replacement for Michael Olise following his move to Bayern Munich – and newly-promoted Ipswich Town also being in the hunt for the England Under-21 wide man, Villa, who sold their former academy graduate to the Tigers for an undisclosed fee understood to be in the region of £5million on September 1 last year, have activated the matching rights clause and are now expected to re-sign Philogene next week for a £18million fee.