The former Tottenham Hotspur player is back practicing at the club where he made his name, which may raise concerns among clubs that have previously been linked with him.

With the January transfer market now closed for more than a month, EFL clubs’ opportunities to strengthen their squads are exceedingly limited. However, it is possible that players who are undesirable elsewhere will be signed as free agents to help the team’s numbers.

One such player is Dele Alli, a former Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder who has been out of contract since leaving his last club Como in September. Dele’s career has been in free fall since he left. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the January 2022 transfer window, following disappointing stints in England, Turkey, and Italy since then.

However, the recent news about a player who was previously considered as one of England’s best young attacking midfielders may attract Championship clubs such as Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, who have been linked with a move for him.

Dele Alli is back in training with Spurs to get fit for a new deal.

The Athletic have reported on social media site X that Dele Alli is back working with Spurs at their Enfield training ground while he hunts for a new club. The reports stated that, “Tottenham have confirmed that Dele has been permitted to train on an academy pitch at Hotspur Way” , as well as: “He was seen working with an individual coach on Wednesday.”

Dele returned to The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for an emotional half-time interview during Spurs’ recent 4-1 home defeat against Arsenal in the North London Derby, telling his interviewer, “I can’t wait to get back on the pitch playing, hopefully it won’t be too long now.”

He left Spurs for Everton on a free transfer in the January 2022 transfer window, however the deal did not go well. His final competitive appearance in England came in August 2022 as a substitute against Aston Villa, concluding his 13-game career at Goodison Park Everton with no goals.

Dele Alli still has time to resuscitate his playing career, but there are a few individuals who will come with a higher amount of danger attached.

Dele Alli’s career has entirely gone off the rails owing to a combination of injury difficulties and mental health issues, so any team that decides to provide him a chance to get his career back on track may be taking a danger.

But, at 29 years old, there may still be time for this to happen, and any club that can pull a tune out of him will gain greatly from his arrival. Over six and a half years at Tottenham, he made 269 appearances in all competitions and scored 67 goals. He also has 37 caps for England, having participated in the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

Ironically, Championship clubs interested in him may face stiff competition from Tottenham. The North Londoners are in the midst of a relegation battle for which they have appeared hopelessly unprepared for weeks, and they are down to barely a full first eleven’s worth of healthy senior players due to an injury problem that has lasted much of the season.

Birmingham City were briefly connected with a move for the midfielder after his contract with Como was terminated in September, but they did not make the transfer. West Bromwich Albion and Wrexham were also connected with a bid for him, but the FLW’s fan commentator advised Albion that there were “too many red flags” to warrant a transfer.

Dele Alli’s talent and potential were never in question, but his career path has become a cautionary tale in recent years. If that raw skill can be rediscovered, he may be the season’s best deal for whoever makes a move for him. However, no new player comes without some danger, and this player’s risk is more than average.