Dele Alli is an ‘asset’ to Everton if in right place to play, £10m Tottenham payment no problem – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
If Dele Alli is in the right place to contribute for Everton next season then the money owed to Tottenham won’t be a problem, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Toffees midfielder has made 13 appearances since his move from Spurs in the January window a year and a half ago, spending last season on loan at Besiktas, and a £10million payment is due once he reaches 20 for the club [Liverpool Echo, 17 March].
The 27-year-old gave an emotional interview to Gary Neville on The Overlap on 13 July where he revealed his struggles with mental health and addition after childhood abuse but also mentioned he is “ready for a big season”, and Campbell doesn’t believe the financial concern would prevent Everton from making the most of Dele’s ability in the right circumstances.
“I don’t know, I think it’s all down to Dele Alli if I’m honest,” the Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Goodison News.
“Look, I think everybody knows the talent that he’s got, he’s just been in the wilderness for a while.
“If he can get himself fit and get his head right he’ll be an asset to Everton Football Club, that’s for sure.
“Playing seven games and triggering the £10m, I don’t think that will be the problem.
“The key is the player’s got to be right. If the player’s right he’s an asset to the football club and he’s worth £10m.“
In the Overlap interview the former England star explained the support he had received from Sean Dyche already, as he rehabs from offseason surgery.
While he left the door open to a decision being made that Everton is not the best place for him to move forward he said he would have “no hard feelings” towards the club if that is the way things go.
Anywhere close to his best he would immediately become one of the best attacking players at Goodison Park and would be a bargain at £10m, but in light of his personal situation it would be wrong to heap pressure on him at this stage.
It sounds like Dyche is the right manager for him personally right now, so that may also lead onto him being the right one professionally if a return to regular game time is on the cards.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are after a leading Premier League goalscorer and his club have been tipped to “have to offload” him now.
