Dele Alli has no place at Everton next season, club should part ways even if relegated
The signing of Dele Alli in January was a statement of intent for Everton, but it has not gone to plan whatsoever for the club or player.
Since joining from Tottenham in a deal worth up to £40m on deadline day, the former England international is yet to make a single start for the club as they battle against relegation.
Considering Frank Lampard once told the world that Dele was one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, that seems to be very confusing to anyone looking from the outside in.
Lampard has so far said nothing but positive things about Dele. He trains well, has fit in well with the rest of the squad in the changing room and has the attributes to change games when necessary.
But for a player who could end up costing the club eight figures, that simply isn’t enough.
This season the club have had to abandon Lampard’s initial philosophy of playing out from the back and keeping the ball in dangerous areas to play progressive football.
But even in the early games when he wanted to do that, Dele wasn’t getting minutes. Now that they’re unable to do that, with survival the priority, he isn’t even getting off the bench any more.
He’s still young enough to find his groove once again, but if Everton are able to survive in the Premier League they won’t be able to carry passengers again or they face more problems next season.
If they get relegated, wages will be a big problem and the squad will need to be rebuilt. Either way, Dele can’t be wearing the blue of Everton when next season starts.
With the club yet to pay anything for him to Spurs, they have a chance to rectify the deal and get off scot-free by releasing him or making a sale this summer before they owe any money.
They can use that wage money on bringing in someone who’s ready to make an impact immediately, and that will help the club to get out of the position they currently find themselves in.
It was worth the gamble in January, but the gamble was a loss. Dele has to leave Goodison Park this summer regardless of whether or not the club stay in the Premier League.
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