Jonty Banks

Tue 18 April 2023 14:10, UK

Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Cebi has admitted that he would consider signing Everton outcast Dele Alli on a free transfer in the summer, according to the Daily Mail.

Alli, 27, has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the last fortnight, cutting his loan spell with the Turkish giants short to undergo surgery on an injury in the UK and subsequently being pictured on social media surrounded by laughing gas canisters.

The former Spurs player made just 17 appearances while on loan at Besiktas, and was booed by his own fans when he was subbed off after just 29 minutes of a match earlier this season.

Toffees boos Sean Dyche recently revealed he had been in contact with the midfielder but that his rehabilitation from injury would come before discussions about his future.

The Daily Mail wrote: “Cebi has claimed he would be open to signing Alli permanently if he ‘leaves Everton for free’ at the end of the season, and Besiktas can then agree a suitable salary for the 27-year-old.”

Time running out

If Everton manage to get Alli off the books in the summer transfer window, it would be a job well done.

With the midfielder not yet reaching his quota of appearances for the club, which would mean they would have to pay the full £40million transfer fee to Spurs, a permanent transfer away from the club makes complete sense.

Why the Besiktas president would be open to signing Alli after the controversy that has surrounded the Englishman this season is questionable.

However, the question that still hangs around Alli is can any manager reignite his early career form which he displayed during his time at Spurs.

First Jose Mourinho tried, then it fell to Frank Lampard, and if the Turkish giants don’t come snooping for Alli’s services this summer, the tricky task will fall into Dyche’s hands.

Before any decisions about the former England International’s future are made, he must undergo surgery and show he is willing to get himself back to match sharpness.