Sam Allardyce shares why Everton’s summer signing is yet to reach his potential
Tyler Dibling’s lack of gametime has been put under the spotlight at Everton.
With 24 points from 17 games, Everton are on course to end 2025 in one of the strongest positions they have in years under David Moyes.
Iliman Ndiaye, who won his first AFCON game with Senegal on Tuesday, has been a key player in that success, while others have had little chance to influence it.
One of those is Dibling, who could leave Everton in January.
Dibling is struggling to adapt at Everton
Southampton were woeful last season, but Dibling was the one shining light that emerged from their Premier League campaign.
The 19-year-old registered six goal contributions in a side that managed only 26 goals, but it was his general performances at such a young age which caught everyone’s attention.
Everton won the race to sign Dibling ahead of several other Premier League clubs, but since his move, the teenager has barely been afforded a look-in.
Dibling’s stats for the Saints last season
- 20 chances created
- 45 successful dribbles
- 51.1% dribble success rate
- 50 fouls won
Moyes has handed the winger just 97 minutes of football in the league so far this season, and Allardyce believes that it is because he has struggled to adapt to his new club.
Via the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, the ex-Toffees boss said: “I thought the young lad from Southampton might have made a bit of an impact, but he’s not sort of settled in yet, has he? Because he got rave reviews for Southampton last season in the Premier League.
“I thought that’s a really good signing, but perhaps it’s being a young lad moving and all the way up here.
“It might not be a while before he settles in, but certainly looks like he’s got the ability, but not managed to put that into an Everton shirt yet.”
Everton could sanction loan for Dibling in January
Everton paid around £40million to sign Dibling in the summer, and given the potential that he has, that fee is being wasted on the bench.
Either Moyes has to start utilising the English teenager, or sanction a loan move to ensure that Dibling is getting regular minutes, whether that be in the Premier League or in the Championship.
There is a serious talent to be had there, but that talent is going to fade away if the lack of gametime persists into the new year.
And if his time isnt going to come in the absence of Ndiaye, it’s hard to pinpoint when it will.
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