By Kieran Maguire

3rd Oct, 2023 | 10:36am

'Tottenham have signed a binding contract' as Dele Alli saga takes new Everton twist

Tottenham will expect Everton to honour the terms of Dele Alli’s contract rather than renegotiate.

That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the contract stand-off between Everton and Spurs.

Everton boss Sean Dyche revealed this week that Everton will attempt to renegotiate the terms of their agreement with Tottenham for Dele Alli.

The Merseyside club signed the 27-year-old midfielder in a deal worth up to £40million in January 2022.

A clause in Alli’s contract means that Everton have to pay an additional £10million once he makes 20 appearances for the club, but the Toffees’ financial situation means they will likely not play him to trigger that clause.

Maguire insists Tottenham will be frustrated by Everton not wanting to honour the initial contract and believes it will come down to the ‘small print’ in his deal.

“I think the small print will determine the degree of enthusiasm that Spurs have in coming back to the table,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.

“As far as they’re concerned, they have signed a written contract which is binding to both parties.

“Everton have a financial commitment in terms of the wages that they’ve agreed with Dele Alli so that’s got to be an ongoing cost.

“I remember Leeds United and Seth Johnson, where the buying club had to pay an extra fee after every 10 games or so and the player ended up playing 39 or 49 games.

“So it’s a difficult one.

“You’ve got to feel for the player here because they simply want to play football.

“If they are being prevented from doing so due to triggering additional financial clauses, then that will frustrate Tottenham.

“They negotiated in good faith with Everton and therefore they’d expect the other party to to honour the contract.“

In other news, Everton ready Jarrad Branthwaite offer after Man United swoop