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Football

16th Dec 2024

Premier League legend offers Dele Alli potential route back into top level football

Zoe Hodges

A lifeline for the former England star

Premier League legend Cesc Fabregas is considering offering Dele Alli a route back into top-flight football almost two years after he played his last competitive game.

Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas is head coach of Serie A club Como and is hopeful the 28-year-old will start training with his side next month.

The former Spurs star, who is a free agent, had been training with Everton to build his fitness after he last played for Turkish team Besiktas in February 2023.

He was spotted in the stands as Fabregas’ side beat Roma on Sunday sparking rumours of a potential move.

Speaking after the game Fabregas said: “I don’t want to talk too much about this but perhaps there is a chance Dele will start training with us after Christmas.

“It would be to help him get in shape and nothing more.”

Though Fabregas played down any talk of a contract being offered, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that Dele Alli will begin training with Como on December 26. Adding both player and club hope this will lead to a contract.

Alli has been struggling with injuries and off-the-pitch issues over the last couple of years which has greatly impacted his playing career.

The midfielder said earlier this year that he had been targeting a spot at the 2026 World Cup with England as he looks at an eventual return to international football.

He was once a regular for the Three Lions, playing in the Euro 2016 squad and the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

However, he has not pulled on an England shirt in over five years and his contract with Everton expired in the summer, leaving him without a club.

Como currently sit 15th in Serie A with 15 points after 16 games but their 2-0 win over Roma lifted them out of the relegation places.

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