The talkSPORT analyst replied live on air on February 14 in response to reporter Alex Crook’s suggestion that the midfield player for the Toffees won’t return under Sean Dyche and may have to join fellow former England colleague Jesse Lingard overseas, potentially to Saudi Arabia.
After a string of injury setbacks, the Goodison Park manager acknowledged a day earlier that Dele, 27, still had “a long way to go” [Liverpool Echo, 13 February].
“Obviously, Jesse Lingard couldn’t get a top European club; he’s forced to go to South Korea,” Crook stated at 8:09 a.m. Dele Alli may have to consider playing overseas since I believe he will have trouble finding a prestigious Premier League team.
“I just hope that Dele Alli can get his career back on track because there’s no doubt that, on form, he’s such a fantastic player. There is the Saudi Arabia option; I’m sure he would be of interest there given his background as a former England international.”
“I just find that whole thing so sad,” McCoist retorted. Lingard as well. I must admit that I think it’s really, really terrible, especially in Dele Alli’s case.
Dele Alli is expected to leave Everton and relocate to Saudi Arabia.
Given that his current contract is slated to end in the summer and he doesn’t appear to be making much of an impact on the Everton team this season, it is possible that he will leave before playing any more games.
It remains to be seen if an inexpensive extension can be arranged and what that may entail regarding the existing conditions of the agreement with Spurs, where the London team is owed £10 million after another seven games, especially after the talks appeared to be derailed early in the season.
When Everton acquired Dele two January windows ago, they will have known that they were taking a chance, and on the field, it hasn’t worked out very well.
He undoubtedly would like to be back playing regularly in the Premier League if given the option, but because some of the circumstances off the field appear to have improved, it’s not necessary to look at the whole thing negatively.
