Sean Dyche won’t stand for what Dele Alli has become, Everton must get rid ASAP
When Dele Alli joined Everton from Tottenham, it was widely believed that it was the perfect place for him to rediscover his form that saw him become an England international.
Dele managed just one start in the Premier League under Frank Lampard, in the final game of the season with Everton having already sealed their fate and survival in the top flight before a ball was kicked.
He was then allowed to leave before the transfer deadline shut last summer on a dry loan to Besiktas, despite the club allowing their main source of goals in Richarlison to leave the club and that being Dele’s biggest up-side.
His move to Turkey couldn’t have been worse though.
He’s made 13 appearances for the club since moving to Istanbul, scoring twice, but has constantly been publicly blasted by the club hierarchy and they have openly looked at terminating his deal early.
It wasn’t possible with Everton not willing to take him back, and he stayed there in January despite clearly having no future under management.
While Dyche pulled up on Merseyside and handed fresh slates to the likes of Michael Keane and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who have both taken them and become regular starters in recent games, the chances of the same happening for Dele are slim-to-none.
To quote the Everton manager, “the minimum requirement is maximum effort” and that isn’t a philosophy that Dele oozes.
He’s never been the strongest runner in midfield, the goals that once made him stand out as one of the best young talents on the continent have dried up, and defensively he has always been far more of a liability than a help.
Dyche isn’t one to use a number ten in his systems anyway, which is supposedly his best position, but he also doesn’t provide enough athleticism to go into midfield or enough of a goal threat or work ethic to go up front.
There is simply not spot for Dele in this squad under Dyche, and whether we’re able to stay in the Premier League or end up in the Championship he must be sold or released at the earliest convenience to ensure he’s not lingering like a bad smell next season.