Report: Everton reject Tottenham’s offer to change Dele Alli deal

Tottenham Hotspur have offered Everton the chance to pay less than the previously agreed £10m for Dele Alli, but the Merseyside club have turned this proposition down.

After a blistering start to his Tottenham career, sadly, mental health issues and fitness concerns hampered Dele‘s progress and his development took a drastic downturn in the aftermath of Mauricio Pochettino‘s tenure coming to an end.

The playmaker joined Everton on an initial free transfer back in the January transfer window of last year, but the deal involves a £10m fee should Dele make 20 appearances for the club. Due to injury issues, he has appeared just 13 times for the Toffees thus far (Transfermarkt).

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, but failed to make an impact there, before returning to England this summer to continue his rehabilitation. It is hoped Dele will be fit enough to feature for Everton soon, though the financial situation still needs to be resolved.

Dele deal turned down by Everton – but why?

Everton are known to be under financial strain at present, and it was believed back in November that the club were looking to renegotiate the terms of the transfer to reduce the fee payable to Spurs (Football Insider).

Now, according to The Times, it is Spurs who have put forward a new proposal, but Everton have rejected this. It is believed Tottenham suggested Everton pay just £8m instead of the initial £10m, but that this fee would depend on decreasing the number of games Dele needs to play before the clause is activated.

Tottenham had hoped the new arrangement would suit both parties – with Everton’s financial issues helped by the lower fee, and Spurs being “more likely” to receive a fee at all. Everton have turned this down, though it is not known exactly why.

Spurs Web Opinion

I assume Everton have very little intention of Dele ever actually making it to 20 appearances and therefore feel they may never have to pay Spurs anything.

I am still a little baffled by the nature of this deal and why we sent him away essentially on a free transfer – even with the downturn in form, Dele still had some value.

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