England's post-Kane era finally looks far more rosy

It's too easy for Mayra Ramirez! Clinical Chelsea are looking ominous

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Santos, Doak & eight best Premier League loanees of the season

Saudi Arabia or MLS beckons for Pogba after Juve release

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Where's Leo?! Messi invisible as Argentina upset by Paraguay

Amorim told he's already made his first mistake at Man Utd

Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return 

How to watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson from anywhere

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<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>Dele technically a free agent</li><li>Training with Everton &amp; plan in place</li><li>Toffees yet to decide whether to keep him</li></ul>

Revealed: Everton's 'behind-closed-doors' plan to test Dele Alli's fitness before deciding whether to offer former England star a new contract

Premier League

Everton

Brentford

Per <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/15/dele-will-get-special-games-to-prove-fitness-before-everton-offer-him-a-new-deal" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, Everton plan to arrange several behind-closed-doors matches so they can test Dele's fitness. The 28-year-old is training with the club despite his contract expiring at the end of the season, and is continuing to recover from groin surgery. Indeed, he would like to remain on Merseyside, and has been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/dele-alli-ex-tottenham-star-finds-top-corner-fearsome-shot-training-prepares-pre-season-everton-approaching-free-agency/blt48bd014d6827bb62" target="_blank">working hard throughout the summer</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In his time at Everton, Dele started just one match, and was loaned to Besiktas in Turkey. He has not played for over a year due to his injury woes, and Sean Dyche has confirmed he will follow a "games programme" to build up, and attempt to prove, his fitness.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Dyche told reporters: “We honestly haven’t gone that far with him as a player, that’s for sure. The club have outlined ‘what ifs?’ but with the player I’ve just said, and I have maintained this, that the first thing is just to get back out there, running freely, playing, training and all that side of things. We will have to wait and see on that.“He is close but not there yet. And don’t forget he’s hardly had any actual football – as in games – for a long time. There is a games programme still, 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 games programme has got to come next. When you’ve been out that long you need a period of building up and getting to true fitness. That could take three or four games. It’s a bit like an extended pre-season, let’s say.”

WHAT DYCHE SAID

Everton start their Premier League campaign against Brighton on Saturday. The club finished 15th last season and will be hopeful of avoiding another relegation battle.

WHAT NEXT?

Revealed: Everton's 'behind-closed-doors' plan to test Dele Alli's fitness before deciding whether to offer former England star a new contract | Goal.com

Dele Alli&apos;s fitness will be tested by Everton before the club make a decision over offering him a new contract.

Revealed: Everton&apos;s &apos;behind-closed-doors&apos; plan to test Dele Alli&apos;s fitness before deciding whether to offer former England star a new contract