Dele Alli scored twice in Everton's 4-2 win against Blackpool on Sunday amid rumours he could be on his way out of Goodison Park.
Goals from Alli, Vitalii Mykolenko and Tom Davies helped Frank Lampard's side complete a solid win against the Championship outfit at Bloomfield Road. Gary Madine and Callum Connolly were responsible for Blackpool's goals in the entertaining affair.
Everton endured a nightmare tour of the US, suffering a 2-0 loss to Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and a humiliating 4-0 thumping at the hands of MLS side Minnesota United. Yet Sunday's result will boost their confidence ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Alli's goals will also do him the world of good after a difficult few years for club and country. The England international, 26, hasn't added to his 37 senior caps since 2019 and has scored just one Premier League goals during the last two seasons.
The midfielder was viewed as the future of English football when he joined Tottenham from MK Dons in the summer of 2015, scoring 28 Premier League goals during his first two seasons in London to win back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards.
Everton signed Alli on a free transfer in January, a move that could cost the Toffees up to £40million with add-ons. They will be required to pay Tottenham £10m once he plays 20 Premier League games for the Merseyside club, making 11 appearances last term.
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It's believed Everton could flog Alli this summer to avoid paying Tottenham any cash. According to The Sun, they are considering doing just that. The Toffees are struggling for cash and must cut costs to allow Lampard to build a squad capable of staying up.
Alli's display against Blackpool may just persuade Everton to stump up the £10m. "Really nice," said Lampard when asked about Alli's goals. "Pre-season gives me a chance to give him games. I know he didn’t get the chance to get as many as he would want [last term].
"You have to earn the right, and you have to earn it with your performance, and I think the goals were great for his confidence. He’s the same as I tell all of the team - there’s improvement for every individual and us collectively.
"But it’s great for him to get those goals because it’s something he’s had as a talent and a skill in his career. If he keeps working, as he has that natural talent, those things come off.... I thought he worked hard today."
Alli, who missed a sitter in the loss to Minnesota, was delighted to get his first Everton goals. "I was kicking myself after the opportunity I had in the other game," added the midfielder. "It was a chance I should have taken and today was a chance to put that right.
"I got two goals so I’m happy. Overall, it was a good team performance and times like this, that’s what we’re looking for. It’s not about individual moments. It’s about how we’re improving, how we’re building as a team. I think today was a step in the right direction, but we need to keep going now."
