Rafael Benitez’s Everton could make a move for Tottenham Hotspur attacker Dele Alli, who is struggling for form in north London.
Speaking on The Athletic’s The View from the Lane podcast, Jack Pitt-Brooke has revealed that Premier League club Everton could make a punt to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli in the January transfer window.
The English attacker was amongst the best young players in the league at one point in time. He took to life at Tottenham like a fish to water and went on to win two PFA Young Player of the Year awards. However, he has since failed to build upon that promise and looks worse for wear.
Alli has been a pale shadow of his former self since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino from Tottenham. He failed to impress under Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo, and the arrival of Antonio Conte has done little to improve matters.
Tottenham appear ready to part ways with the 25-year-old, and this could allow Everton to swoop in and land the player. The attacker does not appear to have many suitors, and this could hand the Toffees the initiative, should they make a move.
Rafael Benitez’s side is going through a rough patch of form and appears to lack both cohesion and inspiration on the pitch. Most of their attacking impetus has come down the flanks, and the Spanish manager will be keen to add more bite to his first XI in the future.
In Alli, he could get himself a player who could thrive under the right manager. The 25-year-old still has the best years of his career ahead of him and could rediscover his best form, this time in Blue.
Most of Alli’s eye-catching performances have come in an attacking role that brought his drive and ability on the ball to the fore. On the other hand, Benitez is more methodical in his approach and often deploys his team to maintain a rigid formation. The chances of Alli being handed the freedom to perform in a free role appears rather remote.
With Everton facing financial constraints, a loan deal is one avenue that could be explored. Such an arrangement could hand Alli a platform to audition his talents while also giving Everton a first-hand look at a potential full-time recruit.
There is little to suggest substantial interest from Everton in Dele Alli as things stand. They have no shortage of alternatives either, including a potential return of Ross Barkley. However, Given that they are 15th in the Premier League table, the Toffees need to turn around their fortunes quick. There are worse players than Alli out there, and the Blues might be well served to take a gamble on the Englishman.
