Dele Alli may move to Besiktas
The 26-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements at Goodison Park
Nigeria born Everton forward Dele Alli is weighing up a move to the Turkish side Besiktas after the club said they would sanction his departure after only seven months at the club.
The 26-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements at Goodison Park, and the Istanbul-based side are understood to be proposing a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.
The interest comes with Dele still seven appearances short of the 20-game threshold that would trigger a £10 million payment by Everton to Tottenham Hotspur after his deadline-day move in January.
The Everton manager Frank Lampard was hoping to revive the fortunes of a player who was instrumental in helping England to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Russia in 2018, but has started him only once. That was the final game of last season when Everton, safe from relegation, lost 5-1 at Arsenal.
Lampard made it clear that Dele’s Everton career would only improve with hard work on the training pitch, a warning that was repeated at the start of this season.
Despite Everton’s lack of attacking options, Dele has remained peripheral. He has appeared a substitute in both of Everton’s Premier League defeats this season.
“The first thing Dele needs to do is find consistency in his training and that is something I have spoken about,” Lampard said on the eve of the campaign. “For me, full pelt in training is non-negotiable, and I think Dele needs, needed, to understand that is important for me and for him.”
Salary issues for a player who earns about £100,000 a week would have to be resolved for the move to Besiktas to proceed, but that Everton are prepared to leave the decision up to the player indicates that they are ready to let him go.
The potential departure comes with Chelsea continuing their pursuit of the Anthony Gordon, who is interested in moving to Stamford Bridge.
At the weekend Chelsea submitted a verbal £40 million offer before on Monday failing with a £45 million bid for England Under-21 winger.
Gordon has not submitted a transfer request and has been in talks over a new contract. However, he is ambitious and Chelsea are ready to clear a pathway for him by listening to offers for Callum Hudson-Odoi, who Newcastle United are keen on, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech.
Newcastle and Tottenham both had bids for Gordon rebuffed this summer and while Lampard, and the chairman, Bill Kenwright, do not want to sell the youngster, another increased offer would test their resolve.
Everton are looking to finalise incomings and are trying to make progress with a deal to bring Idrissa Gueye back to Goodison Park from Paris Saint-Germain before Saturday’s game with Nottingham Forest.
There is interest in Southampton striker Che Adams, while Everton have also targeted Brighton and Hove Albion forward Neal Maupay.
