---
title: "Everton: Frank McAvennie baffled by Dele Alli fee"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-frank-mcavennie-baffled-by-dele-alli-fee/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Everton"
published: "2022-02-06T20:10:43Z"
modified: "2022-02-06T20:10:43Z"
---

# Everton: Frank McAvennie baffled by Dele Alli fee

**Everton have agreed to a ‘ridiculous’ deal for Dele Alli, says former West Ham and Celtic star Frank McAvennie.**

### The lowdown

Frank Lampard’s arrival at Goodison Park was greeted with the signings of Dele from Tottenham Hotspur and Donny van de Beek from Manchester United.

According to a report from [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3103872/2022/01/31/lampard-believes-he-can-reignite-struggling-dele-alli-after-he-ran-out-of-chances-at-tottenham/), the possibility of recruiting Dele had been raised in Lampard’s interviews for the job.

The 43-year-old subsequently sanctioned the transfer, confident he could extract the best from his compatriot, and his endorsement was a ‘big factor’ in Everton’s willingness to meet Spurs’ demands.

If performance-related add-ons are triggered, Dele could wind up costing £40million (via [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/12529778/dele-alli-everton-sign-spurs-midfielder-permanently-in-a-deal-that-could-cost-40m)).

### The latest

McAvennie was left scratching his head at the price tag, telling [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/dele-alli-pundit-baffled-by-everton-after-ridiculous-40m-deal-sanctioned/) that Everton had taken a ‘risk’.

“That £40million though, how can Tottenham can ask for that,” he said. “Why did Everton sanction that?

“That’s ridiculous. He hasn’t kicked a ball for two years. I guess if he does well enough to hit those targets then the signing will be worth it.

“Obviously it’s a risk but I think we will see the best of Dele Alli again. He’s needed this move for a long time.”

### The verdict

Perhaps Everton are paying for the player Dele once was. He made his name by winning landing back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards in [2016 and 2017](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/10848178/tottenhams-dele-alli-crowned-pfa-young-player-of-the-year#:~:text=Tottenham%20midfielder%20Dele%20Alli%20has,for%20the%20Premier%20League%20title.).

His end product has dried up almost completely in recent times, though. Since the start of last season, he’s managed just [one goal and one assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dele-alli/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/207929).

In the five previous campaigns, he’d managed a total of [50 goals and 36 assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dele-alli/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/207929).

It’s not quite fair to say he hasn’t ‘kicked a ball’, but his involvement has dropped off rather dramatically. From his peak of [3,044](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dele-alli/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/207929) Premier League minutes in 2016/17, he fell to just [617](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dele-alli/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/207929) last term.

At least the add-ons are performance-related, meaning Everton would theoretically get some bang for their buck.

**In other news, [Greg O’Keeffe reacts to a ‘disappointing’ sight at Goodison](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-transfer-rumours/everton-greg-okeeffe-reacts-to-ben-godfrey-injury/).**