Everton: Sean Dyche to hold talks with Dele Alli after Besiktas mess, Sky Sports pundit has no expectations
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell has “no expectations” of Dele Alli ahead of his return to Everton from a tumultuous loan in Turkey until Sean Dyche has gauged his mindset.
The former England star has been written off by Besiktas boss Senol Gunes and won’t play again this season, before a bizarre episode this week where the veteran manager claimed the midfielder had “gone AWOL” before the 26-year-old refuted that he had permission from the club to attend a doctor’s appointment [Telegraph, 22 March].
The permanent option that he had in his loan deal has no chance of being triggered, and Sky Sports pundit Campbell sees no choice but for the Toffees boss to have talks with the ex-Tottenham star and assess for himself.
He exclusively told Goodison News that the next step for the midfielder was: “Just like before, he comes back and the manager has a chat with him.
“That’s all you can do. Speak to him, see where he is mentally etc. and you go from there.
“He’s contracted to the club so that’s all you can do.
“No expectations because we don’t what his mindset is.”
The wheels came off in a big way for Dele in Turkey, after 15 games and three goals for Besiktas had more than doubled his game time as a Toffees player, with the spell branded an “embarrassment” in The Mirror [page 67, 26 March].
Gunes seemed to be genuinely annoyed by the loanee with his sarcastic comments around the AWOL confusion, and the door is now firmly shut on the potential for his exit from England to lead to a rebirth in the Turkish Super Lig.
His time at Everton under Frank Lampard had the plug pulled on it rather abruptly when the loan move came up as well, so hopes are obviously dwindling for the club to see any returns on their signing.
Dyche has revived the fortunes of Abdoulaye Doucouré and Michael Keane so perhaps he can do the same with Dele, but at this stage that would represent a surprise outcome.