By Joe Ellis

7th Jan, 2023 | 12:10pm

Stan Collymore throws support behind Everton outcast Dele Alli amid Besiktas struggles

Stan Collymore insists that Dele Alli’s happiness should be put above football as the Everton loanee struggles during his spell in Turkey.

The 26-year-old has not settled in at Besiktas this season and now the Turkish Super League side want to terminate his loan early although the payoff fee is causing problems, as reported by BBC Sport, 5 January.

Alli has scored just once in the league this season after Frank Lampard decided he was not good enough to play for the Toffees in the summer.

Collymore is a big admirer of the England internationals despite this season’s problems and he remains behind him and wants to see his off-pitch happiness put above anything on it right now.

“Before the 2018 WC at St George’s Park, I sat and interviewed him. Genuinely lovely kid with an endearing naivety about him,” he said via his personal Twitter account. “I just want him to be happy. Nothing else matters.”

Time away

At 26 years of age, he would usually be needing to play every game as he nears the peak of his powers but after everything that has happened over the past couple of years, that is the last thing he needs at this moment in time.

Alli has become drained from football after being asked to play virtually every game for Tottenham and England for a period of time and things quickly derailing afterwards.

Ideally, he would have his loan ended in January and then be allowed to just completely switch off from football for the rest of the season and then he can return to Goodison Park rejuvenated.

Frank Lampard doesn’t seem to want him right now and it is almost pointless for him to stay in Turkey where things clearly are not working whatsoever.

Alli still has a lot to give Everton in the future but the club are doing him no favours in trying to avoid his recall from a horrible spell abroad.