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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><ul><li>Dele a free agent</li><li>Fighting for Everton contract amid injuries</li><li>Spurs could have sold him for fortune</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><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>

Tottenham snubbed chance to sell Dele Alli for ‘over £80m’ – with ex-England international now a free agent & fighting for his future amid injury struggles at Everton

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Tottenham

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Premier League

Everton

Fulham

<p>Back in 2016-17, Dele enjoyed the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/dele-alli-2026-world-cup-premier-league-transfer-ambition-return-everton-training-free-agency/blt123d00a86c108658" target="_blank">most productive campaign of his career</a> to date. He found the target on 22 occasions across all competitions for Spurs and was considered to be <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/dele-alli-no-limit-could-jude-bellingham-all-went-wrong-injury-ravaged-former-tottenham-star/blta9f66d4154b1f741" target="_blank">one of the best goal-scoring midfielders in world football</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Tottenham had snapped him up for just £5m from MK Dons in 2015, after finally heeding transfer advice from former manager and director of football Pleat, and passed up the chance to make a healthy £75m ($98m) profit on that investment.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Pleat, who also filled a role as scout during his time in north London, has told <a href="https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/i-got-six-reports-on-dele-alli-over-a-two-year-period-spurs-should-have-reacted-after-my-first-two-at-one-stage-they-could-sold-him-for-over-gbp80m-ex-tottenham-chief-reveals-secrets-behind-dele-transfer-in-2015 " target="_blank"><em>FourFourTwo</em></a>: “[My role at Spurs in recent years has been] consultant and scout. I’m very pleased with one or two players who came in where I had an influence, one being Jack Clarke. None of the managers handled him well. He can play.</p><p>“There was Dele Alli, too. I took Franco Baldini to watch him and he was on his phone the whole time – he didn’t even watch him. I’ve got six reports on Dele over a period of two years; they should’ve reacted after my first two. Eventually they heard he was going to Aston Villa or Newcastle. They rang me and I said, 'Well, fancy that? Serves you right. You have to get hold of him.' They did the deal really quickly and I persuaded the chairman that £5m wasn’t too much to pay.</p><p>“At one stage they could have sold him for over £80m, then things happened. I’m sad because I saw him at 16 and he already had that stature about him, and he could play, too.”</p>

WHAT PLEAT SAID

<p>Dele has endured a humbling fall from grace of late, with the 28-year-old England international <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/revealed-catch-22-holding-dele-alli-back-everton-terms-tottenham-deal-ex-england-international-world-cup-2026-motivational-message-injury/blt2e4cb8a2eba82d26" target="_blank">currently a free agent</a> after seeing his contract at Everton expire. He is still <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/unhappy-christmas-dele-alli-when-everton-give-up-ex-tottenham-star-another-injury-setback/bltbf029a1effcd9240" target="_blank">training with the Toffees, in the hope of earning fresh terms</a>, but has made just 13 appearances for the Premier League outfit since joining them in January 2022 – with his <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">last appearance of any kind in an injury-ravaged run</a> coming in February 2023 during a loan spell at Besiktas.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR DELE?

Tottenham snubbed chance to sell Dele Alli for ‘over £80m’ – with ex-England international now a free agent & fighting for his future amid injury struggles at Everton | Goal.com English Saudi Arabia

Dele Alli is a free agent fighting for his future, but David Pleat has revealed Tottenham had the chance to sell him for “over £80 million”.

Tottenham snubbed chance to sell Dele Alli for ‘over £80m’ – with ex-England international now a free agent &amp; fighting for his future amid injury struggles at Everton