Dele Alli training update suggests new contract isn’t close – with ex-Tottenham star staying at Everton for pre-season after becoming a free agent

The former England international, who joined the Toffees in January 2022, is looking to prove his form and fitness during pre-season. He underwent surgery again in January, with injuries preventing the 28-year-old from kick-starting a stagnating career.

Dele became a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, with his terms at Goodison Park coming to a close. There was plenty of talk regarding a fresh start and move elsewhere, with no competitive appearance made since February 2023 during a loan spell at Turkish side Besiktas.

Everton have reached an agreement with Spurs that means no “significant” fee will change hands if they were to put a new deal to Dele. As a result, he is being allowed to spend the summer working with Dyche’s squad ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.

Dyche has, however, said when delivering an update on Dele’s present and future – with no minutes seen in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Salford: “Dele is getting fitter but only really just breaking into training. Forgetting about the contact situation. He’s generally with us and getting fitter.”

Dele has seen his cause hampered by issues on and off the field, with the hope being that he is now clear of any physical ailments. He was once a 20-goal-a-season midfielder at Tottenham, with there still plenty of talent to be unlocked if he can find surroundings in which he feels healthy and confident.