Everton’s Dele blow after angering Spurs

EVERTON’S hopes of Tottenham waiving a £10million fee for Dele Alli have been hit after the Toffees blamed their overspending on Spurs. Everton have claimed Daniel Levy’s refusal to pay £80million for striker Richarlison caused them to breach spending rules to the tune of £19.5m, which sources at Spurs have described as ‘absurd’.

The Goodison Park club claimed Tottenham had exploited their financial problems by driving ‘a hard bargain’ over the £60m fee Spurs paid for Richarlison in June 2022 — which was £20m short of their valuation. Attempts to use the Richarlison fee as mitigation for their overspending was rejected by the independent commission who deducted 10 points from Everton last week. The two clubs held talks last month over restructuring a deal which states Everton must pay Tottenham £10m if Dele makes another seven appearances, but they have yet to reach an agreement. Tottenham do not want to prevent Dele from reviving his career, but have made it clear any renegotiated settlement has to be right for both parties. The 10-point deduction is likely to be debated in Parliament this week, with local Labour MP Ian Byrne set to lodge a motion over the ‘disproportionate nature’ of the punishment. Liverpool city mayor Steve Rotheram has also written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to express his ‘deep concern and opposition’ at the ‘disproportionate’ sanction.

Rotheram wrote: ‘I do not believe this punishment fits the crime. I support the club’s appeal and would urge a more balanced approach.’ Everton will launch their appeal by the end of next week, with a verdict unlikely to arrive until the new year. Supporters yesterday left a banner outside their Finch Farm training base accusing the Premier League of corruption, and a fan group has raised more than £37,000 to go towards protests at Goodison Park for the visit of Manchester United on Sunday.