England attacking midfielder Dele Alli has decided to do everything possible to represent England at the 2026 World Cup. Reasonably hairy goal for someone who is clubless.
The last few years have been a nightmare for the 28-year-old, ever since he ended up in the freezer at Tottenham while Jose Mourinho was manager and was sent to Everton on a free transfer in January 2022.
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Now Dele Alli has got a deal in principle at Everton, with whom he has been training recently, which gives him enough playing time to prove his worth, first for the club and if all goes well for national team boss Thomas Tuchel as well.
He has not played football since his loan spell at Turkish club Besiktas, after struggling with injuries for over a year.
But the 28-year-old is on the verge of returning to the pitch after doing well in training at Everton. Sky Sports’ Alan Myers has heard things are going well behind the scenes for the star midfielder.
He is not under contract with Everton but has been using their facilities for rehabilitation at the club’s training base at Finch Farm and is expected to sign a deal when he returns to the first team, according to the report.
“I think he’s good and is closer to having some playing time (U21) etc. just what I’ve heard.”
In another tweet, Myers claimed that in principle, a deal has been agreed with the Toffees.
“As far as I’m aware, a deal is agreed in principle, but it will only kick in once he’s fit and ready to play,” he added.
Alli made 13 appearances across all competitions for Everton during his first spell at the club following his free transfer from Tottenham. In the summer, Everton boss Sean Dyche gave an update on the former England international, saying: “He’s not ready to play yet, he hasn’t played for a long time.”
When asked if Alli was keen to stay, he replied, “Well, we haven’t gone down that road yet because he’s not ready to play yet. You have to be able to play to know what the future holds.”
Dyche continued: “Don’t forget that he’s hardly had any actual football, like in games, for a long time.
“It’s still a game show as well. It’s not just a case of getting fit and running around with the first-team group, then he needs games, so therefore a game program has to come next time.
“When you’ve been out for so long, you need a period to build up and get back to real fitness. It can take three or four games. It’s a bit like an extended pre-season, let’s say.”
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