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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Midfielder is now a free agent</li><li>Has been allowed to train with Toffees</li><li>Patience will run out eventually</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Unhappy Christmas for Dele Alli? When Everton could give up on ex-Tottenham star after seeing him suffer another injury setback

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<p>The Toffees have been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/second-chance-dele-alli-tottenham-everton-talks-ex-england-star-returns-training-toffees-free-agent-new-contract/bltfb0af243d242c6ad " target="_blank">allowing the former England international to train with them</a> after seeing his contract at Goodison Park expire. A door was being left open for the 28-year-old midfielder to earn fresh terms on Merseyside and start rebuilding his career.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Dele, though, is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/dele-alli-injured-again-19-months-ex-tottenham-star-slip-back-new-contract-everton/blt7164edce78c7dbf3 " target="_blank">nursing another knock</a> – on the back of undergoing more surgery at the start of the year – and is struggling to put himself in a position where Everton can find any use for him. With that in mind, the clock is ticking on <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/fears-retire-dele-alli-told-how-recover-injury-nightmare-ruined-everton-spell-future-questions-free-agency/blt575fc08e031953c8 " target="_blank">efforts to prove his worth</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Former Everton scout Bryan King has told <a href="https://www.goodisonnews.com/2024/10/07/everton-moving-on-as-deadline-for-dele-alli-return-speculated-after-finch-farm-news/ " target="_blank"><em>Goodison News</em></a> of patience potentially running out at a time of the year in which goodwill is supposed to be in plentiful supply: “I think they have shown a lot of loyalty to Alli. He lost his way in football, and it’s a long road for him to come back. I do hope he does get back to playing because he was a very talented player. However, the way he lost his way and his form, I don’t think that will come back easily. It will be a long rehabilitation.</p><p>“I think the club are slowly moving on, and they’re looking at both sides of it. If he gets himself fit, okay, but the club can’t bank on him being a player who will win them matches and save them from relegation because he hasn’t played. If there isn’t movement by Christmas, then I think Everton might have to call it a day.”</p>

WHAT EX-EVERTON SCOUT SAID

<p>Dele has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/bonuses-sell-on-clause-dele-alli-terms-agreed-tottenham-ex-england-international-rejoin-everton-free-agent-explained/bltc703e8e0ee0a6b8f " target="_blank">taken in just 13 appearances for Everton</a> since first <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ex-everton-scout-explains-why-dele-alli-strange-signing-midfielder-challenged-new-contract-goodison-park/blt5c3f8858edd00281 " target="_blank">joining them from Spurs</a> in the January transfer window of 2022. His last competitive outing of any kind came in February 2023, during a loan spell at Besiktas, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/should-dele-alli-retire-another-injury-future-question-asked-ex-tottenham-star-setback-bid-new-everton-contract/blta5081fd9e373c64e " target="_blank">20 months being spent out of action</a> since then.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR DELE ALLI?

Unhappy Christmas for Dele Alli? When Everton could give up on ex-Tottenham star after seeing him suffer another injury setback | Goal.com

Dele Alli has suffered another injury setback, leading to suggestions that Everton may have given up on the ex-Tottenham star by Christmas.