Everton’s midfielder Dele Alli is set to appear as a guest on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
Dele Alli’s presence as a pundit on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football will cost Tottenham £10 million, as part of the deal that sent him to Everton in January 2022. Originally, Spurs had negotiated a clause that would grant them the sum if Alli made 20 appearances for Everton in the Premier League. However, due to injuries and a decline in form, Alli has only managed 13 appearances for Everton under Frank Lampard’s management.
Despite there being seven matches left in Everton’s season, which theoretically could have allowed Alli to reach the required 20 appearances, his punditry stint on Monday will cap his potential appearances at 19. It’s widely speculated that Everton will release Alli at the end of the season, effectively nullifying Spurs’ chance of receiving the £10 million.
Alli’s recent years have been challenging, with struggles on and off the pitch. Once a standout player for Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino, he faced difficulties towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure and has dealt with personal issues, including revealing in a candid interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap that he had been a victim of childhood sexual abuse and had undergone mental health rehabilitation.
Returning from a loan spell with Besiktas, Alli faced a groin injury and required surgery, which led him to a modern rehab facility for mental health. Despite initially aiming for a return in the new year, setbacks have plagued his season with Everton, who themselves have faced a tough battle against relegation, even enduring a deduction of eight points.