Pundit claims Dele Alli situation boils down to ‘one of two things’ as ‘mystery’ Everton flop explained
Dele Alli has either lost interest in football or lost focus on the task at hand with Everton amid his continued struggles, Graeme Souness has said.
The midfielder once held a status as one of England’s brightest talents following his rise at Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino plucked him from MK Dons and made the 25-year-old a star man at Spurs.
However, he failed to replicate such form under Jose Mourinho and then Nuno Espirito Santo. What’s more, Antonio Conte let the player leave in January.
It was hoped Alli would be able to find his feet again and play a starring role under Frank Lampard. Indeed, Lampard spoke glowingly of a player who has a “point to prove” who stars in a similar role he did.
However, the attacking midfielder has yet to start a game for Everton. He has featured for only 169 Premier League minutes since joining. The Toffees are firmly in a relegation battle and Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham did not help their cause. Alli was an unused substitute at the London Stadium.
According to Souness, his spell with Everton is Alli’s last chance to salvage his Premier League career.
“Dele Alli is a mystery to me. When he first broke into the team [at Spurs] I went thinking ‘he’s destined to be a top player’,” the pundit told Sky Sports.
“He had a couple of years where he was good, getting goals, working his socks off for the team.
“But it’s just all evaporated. Lots of serious managers have looked at him and made their mind up on him. For me, if I was advising him, I’d be saying ‘you’re now in the last chance saloon’.
“If it doesn’t work out for him at Everton, where does he go after that? It’s certainly not a big club.”
Stan Collymore claimed that Alli should consider quitting professional football, comments Lampard did not take kindly to.
Souness added on the potential reasons for the player’s malaise: “Everton are a big club, he should grab it with both hands. Whatever he’s doing, and only he can answer it, it’s one of two things.
“He’s had his eye taken off the ball for whatever reasons, [or] he’s lost interest in football, at his age, really?’”
Dele Alli struggles only part of Everton story
Alli may not have had the best transition from Tottenham to Everton, but he is not the only player struggling at Goodison Park.
Centre-back Michael Keane has faced criticism and he received a red card against West Ham.
Sunday’s result left Everton 17th in the Premier League, three points above the drop zone.
They play 19th-placed Burnley – who are four points behind – on Wednesday in a defining match.
After that, though, Everton face Manchester United, Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal before the end of the season.
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