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Daily Mirror
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Dele Alli considers retiring at 29 after ex-Spurs and England star snubbed by Cesc Fabregas
Dele Alli's football career has been on a downward spiral since leaving Tottenham in 2021 after struggling to rediscover his best form at Everton and his future now looks uncertain having been excluded from Cesc Fabregas' plans at Como Former Tottenham star Dele Alli is reportedly considering retirement at the age of just 29 after being told he is not Como's plans under Cesc Fabregas this season. Alli has endured a nightmare spell since leaving Tottenham for Everton in 2021 after struggling to find his best form at Goodison Park before a disastrous loan at Turkish side Besiktas in 2022-23. Everton allowed him to train with the first team during the 2023-24 season but he failed to stay fit and avoid injuries and eventually left in 2024 before Como and Fabregas took a chance on him at the start of the year. But his luckless run in football continued after he was sent off on his Como debut, just ten minutes after coming on as a substitute following a rash challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Alli hasn't played for the club since and he has now been "banished" from Fabregas' plans for the new 2025-26 Serie A season, according to Gazetta dello Sport, and the England international is now thinking about hanging up his boots. The Italian outlet has detailed how Alli has been training away from the first team group and is now weighing up his next move, with few options on the table for the former wonderkid. Premier League fans will remember being wowed by Alli during seven years at Tottenham, where he once scored 18 Premier League goals in the 2016-17 season as Spurs finished second in the league. Tottenham's All or Nothing documentary on Amazon in the 2019-20 season shed a light on Alli's struggles behind the scenes, however, as former boss Jose Mourinho was filmed criticising his work ethic in training before telling the player he will "regret" not realising his true potential. Alli later gave a heartbreaking interview with Gary Neville in 2023 following his exit from Spurs, revealing his trauma as a child, including how he was sexually abused as a child. He said he struggled with his mental health throughout his career and had spent time in rehab following the end of his Besiktas loan due to an addiction to sleeping pills. During the interview, Alli said he had contemplated retiring at 24 when Mourinho was the manager after losing his hunger as a top level footballer. "One morning I woke up and I had to go to training - this is when he'd stopped playing me - and I was in a bad place. I was literally staring in the mirror and I was asking if I could retire now, at 24, doing the thing I love. That was heartbreaking." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BreakingNews.ie
26 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Saturday briefing: Isak interests Liverpool and Son set for Tottenham exit
Alexander Isak's future was once again a red-hot topic as Liverpool reportedly upped their interest in the Newcastle striker on Friday. Tottenham captain Son Heung-min announced his intention to leave the club, while Spurs are closing in on the loan signing of Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich and Everton are pursuing a deal for Southampton teenager Tyler Dibling. Advertisement Isak bid rejected Alexander Isak hit 23 Premier League goals last season for Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA) Newcastle have rejected a bid from Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak, according to reports. The 25-year-old Sweden striker has been training at his old club Real Sociedad this week amid reports he has asked Newcastle executives to explore a move away from the club. He has been heavily linked with Liverpool, who are now reported to have made a bid for the player which Newcastle have knocked back. Isak still has three years left on his contract with Newcastle. Neither club has commented on the matter. Advertisement Son Heung-min set for Tottenham farewell Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has revealed he will leave the club this summer. Son has spent the last decade at Spurs and achieved his goal of silverware in May when he helped them to Europa League success with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. It ended a 17-year trophy drought for the club and South Korea captain Son explained his decision to target a 'fresh challenge' during a press conference in his home country ahead of Tottenham's pre-season friendly with Newcastle on Sunday. After Spurs arrived in Seoul on Friday, Son – following a remarkable 454 appearances and 173 goals for the north London club – confirmed his desire to depart this summer, with MLS outfit Los Angeles FC leading the race for his signature, the PA news agency understands. Advertisement Son told a press conference: 'Before we start, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer. 'Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision. 'It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career, such amazing memories. It was so hard to make this decision.' Spurs close in on Palhinha Joao Palhinha caught the eye at Fulham (PA) Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha underwent a medical at Tottenham on Friday, the PA news agency understands. Advertisement Spurs are eager to boost their squad for new boss Thomas Frank ahead of the club's return to the Champions League this season and set their sights on the Portugal international. Palhinha only signed for Bayern last summer from Fulham in a deal worth up to £47.4million but endured a difficult debut campaign and made only six starts in Bundesliga, which has opened the door for a return to the Premier League. Talks between Tottenham and Bayern got under way on Thursday and PA understands an agreement was reached with Palhinha given the green light to undergo a medical ahead of the proposed move. Lockyer nears football return Former Luton captain Tom Lockyer has revealed he is 'four weeks away' from being allowed to play football again. Advertisement Lockyer has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023, while he collapsed on the field just seven months earlier during the Hatters' Sky Bet Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Coventry. Lockyer, speaking ahead of Luton's opening Sky Bet League One fixture against AFC Wimbledon at Kenilworth Road, told Sky Sports: 'I haven't had a break, I've been working all the way through, just trying to get this ankle right and trying to get fit. 'But I've had a really good few weeks and hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.' Saints want more for Dibling Tyler Dibling caught the eye at Southampton last season (Adam Davy/PA) Everton are looking to sign Tyler Dibling but are well below Southampton's current valuation, the PA news agency understands. The 19-year-old caught the eye during his breakthrough campaign, scoring four goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for the relegated side. A number of Premier League clubs have tracked Dibling's progress and Everton have seen an initial approach in the region of £27million rejected by the Championship club. The Toffees are reportedly ready to make another move for the England Under-21s international, but PA understands Saints want in excess of £40m for the academy graduate. What's on today? Luton edged out AFC Wimbledon on Friday night (Adam Davy/PA) After Luton edged out AFC Wimbledon on Friday night, Sky Bet League One gets in full swing with 10 fixtures while there is a full League Two programme. Rangers get their Scottish Premiership campaign under way with a trip to Motherwell and Kilmarnock welcome Livingston.
The Guardian
33 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Liverpool's ‘take it or leave it' £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle
Liverpool have had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle and do not intend to submit a second offer for the striker in this transfer window. Despite long-held interest in the Sweden international and his desire to move to Merseyside, Liverpool's first formal offer came in under the £120m suggested when Richard Hughes, sporting director at Anfield, made an informal enquiry over Isak's availability a fortnight ago. Newcastle value their prized asset at £150m, a British transfer-record sum, but are reluctant to sell the 25-year-old, who was the second highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season behind Mohamed Salah. Given how swiftly Newcastle rejected their offer, Liverpool consider it futile to return with a second bid before the transfer window closes on 1 September. Their offer of £110m for the want-away player remains on the table. Liverpool were encouraged to step up their pursuit by Isak's stance following Hughes' enquiry and the player's representatives. The club have spent almost £300m so far this summer, including a £79m deal to sign Newcastle target Hugo Ekitiké. But with £190m recouped in sales since Hughes arrived in June 2024, plus healthy revenues from their title triumph and return to the Champions League, Liverpool are in a position to test Newcastle's resolve to keep Isak. Their current transfer record is the £100m paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz in June. That could rise to a British transfer record of £116m with add-ons. Isak did not travel on Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia. The club attributed his absence to a minor thigh injury but the player informed them that he wishes to explore his options this summer, with Liverpool his preferred destination, and has been training at former club Real Sociedad this week. It is unclear whether Isak had Newcastle's permission to do so. There has also been no progress on a new and improved contract. James Milner will wear the number 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former Liverpool teammate as a 'great friend'. The Portuguese forward died aged 28 last month in a car accident, alongside his brother André Silva. Liverpool have retired the number 20 jersey worn by Jota at Anfield in tribute, and Milner has opted to switch from No 6 after Brighton teammate Carlos Baleba changed his squad number from No 20 to No 17. 'Once I heard Carlos was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and pay tribute to Diogo Jota," Milner said. 'He was an amazing player who I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well. It will be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year.' Isak, signed from Sociedad for around £60m in 2022, has three years remaining on his contract at St James' Park. Newcastle have maintained that the forward is not for sale but have been attempting to sign other top-level strikers this summer, so far without success. Whether a breakthrough in Newcastle's striker search softens their stance on Isak remains to be seen. Eddie Howe and his nephew, Andy Howe, have been overseeing the club's recruitment this summer after Paul Mitchell stepped down as sporting director and with chief executive Darren Eales due to leave on health grounds. As well as Ekitiké, Newcastle have missed out on strikers Liam Delap, João Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo, along with goalkeeper James Trafford, who rejoined Manchester City. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is a target but Newcastle face competition from Manchester United for the 6ft 5in Slovenian, while Brentford have rejected their opening offer for Yoane Wissa.
