Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has backed Besiktas loanee Dele Alli to return to Everton and have a long-term future with the Premier League club.
The Lowdown: Alli’s loan
Towards the end of the summer transfer window, it was announced that the Turkish giants had secured the season-long loan signing of the Toffees playmaker.
Despite only arriving at Goodison Park in January, the 26-year-old failed to make an instant impression on manager Frank Lampard. This resulted in his inclusion as an Everton starter just once during the second half of the 2021/22 season, whilst he came on as a substitute on ten occasions.
As a result, with minutes on the pitch not guaranteed, Alli agreed to join Besiktas for the current season.
The Latest: Robinson’s claim
Robinson, who often works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that the Englishman still has a future with the Merseyside club, as he wasn’t given a fair chance upon his arrival at Finch Farm.
Speaking with Football Insider, the former Tottenham goalkeeper claimed: “Listen, there is a reason that Frank signed him. There is a reason he wanted him from Spurs. He saw something in him.
“In my opinion, I do not think Alli has been given a fair opportunity yet. Everton were a struggling team last year. In that situation you look for players that work hard and you look for solidity. Frank wanted them to be robust and hard to beat. Dele is not that type of player. Therefore, he did not get a fair crack of the whip.
“The more time he sits on the bench the worse it is for his confidence. For him to get away and play in Turkey will help. He will be away from the spotlight of the English media.
“If Everton start to improve and play in a different way there is a place for him at Goodison Park. He is a top-class player. You do not become a bad player overnight.
“He has not done it for a few years now but if he can find his form he would fit into any Premier League team. He has a lot of work to do though. He can do what he likes off the field if his performances on it are right.”
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The Verdict: Loan move is make-or-break
When looking at Alli’s underlying statistics, it appears that his much-maligned work ethic was underappreciated during his brief stint at Goodison Park.
As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year, the midfielder ranks in the top 1% for pressures, tackles, interceptions, blocks and clearances, and in the top 3% for aerial duels won.
At 26 years of age, the former England international still has time on his side to get his Premier League career back on track.
Therefore, his Besiktas loan move could well be critical in deciding whether Alli will be given the chance to demonstrate his talents at Finch Farm upon his return to Everton.