Dele Alli could be handed a remarkable route back into English football, with both Southampton and Leicester City eyeing a potential move for the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.
As exclusively revealed by SportsBoom, the 29-year-old is on the radar of two Championship promotion contenders after falling out of favour in Italy.
Outcast in Como, Wanted in the Championship
Alli signed an 18-month contract with Serie A newcomers Como in January, but just seven months into that deal he has been told he is surplus to requirements. New manager Cesc Fàbregas has excluded the former England international from his plans, and Alli has been training away from the first-team squad while considering his next move.
The ex-Everton man is now attracting interest from England once again, with both Leicester City and Southampton reportedly making enquiries. Both clubs are believed to see Alli as a high-upside option who, if reinvigorated, could add experience and flair to their promotion bids.
A return to the Premier League remains the midfielder’s long-term goal, and sources suggest he would welcome the opportunity to rebuild his reputation in the Championship.
From Premier League Star to Free Agent Uncertainty
Alli has endured a difficult period since leaving Tottenham in 2022. After a brief and unproductive stint at Everton, which yielded only 13 appearances, he was loaned to Turkish outfit Beşiktaş, where he played just 13 league games. Injuries, inconsistency and off-field challenges have plagued a career that once promised so much.
His time at Como has followed a similar trajectory. Despite being heralded as a marquee signing in January, he has made just one appearance for the club. Fàbregas’ appointment this summer has brought a shift in direction, leaving Alli on the fringes yet again.
Despite suggestions that the midfielder might retire before turning 30, those close to Alli insist he remains determined to write a new chapter. He is said to be training with intensity and keeping himself ready for the right opportunity.
Writer’s View
This could be a fascinating final act in Dele Alli’s career. While the heights he reached at Tottenham—269 appearances and 67 goals, including 51 in the Premier League—feel like a distant memory, he remains just 29 years old.
Both Leicester and Southampton have the infrastructure and coaching setups to provide the support he needs, and with the right environment, Alli still has the technical quality to make an impact. It would be a gamble, but one that could pay off handsomely if the fire still burns.
