With the Boxing Day game at Burnley having been called off and with continued uncertainty over other festive fixtures, attention for Everton is turning more to January’s transfer window.
And, former Everton striking legend Kevin Campbell has claimed a New Year move by Dele Alli to Goodison Park makes sense for all.
Campbell, the former Blues’ centre-forward and captain, says that former England international Alli should consider a move to Merseyside to revive his career.
The Tottenham midfielder’s career has stalled recently since the time three years ago after the 2018 World Cup when he was one of the most highly-regarded young players in the English game.
Since then, Alli’s influence and appearances have declined and his time in North London has become subject to much speculation with many rumours of possible moves away.
With the arrival now of another new manager in Antonio Conte, his future seems even more unclear and it does seem very possible that he may well leave Spurs, perhaps in this coming January window.
The Toffees’ have been linked with a move for Alli as well as another unsettled ex-England forward Jesse Lingard constantly being touted for a move away from Manchester United.
Now Campbell thinks that were Alli to leave the capital and relocate to Goodison Park would be a good thing for the player.
But, would it be the right move for Everton?
Alli is a player who was a very well regarded midfielder/attacking player that many clubs might have been keen to sign a few season back if they had the chance. This season though Alli hasn’t had a great deal of playing time or impact with just a single goal scored.
It does seem as though the main priority for Blues’ manager Rafa Benitez in January’s window, given his limited funds, will be strengthing defence and midfield, although none of this is totally clear cut and there may well be surprises.
So, bringing in a player like Alli might fit in with that strategy. However, as always financial constraints and issues over the player’s attitude and wages will be factors to consider.
There have been so many of these types of players that have been claimed to be on Everton’s radar it’s become a ridiculous excercise trying to make any sense of it.
I suppose bringing in a player like Alli probably on loan for six months might be a decent move. He’s young still at 25 and has plenty to prove. And, as we saw with Lingard’s own move to West Ham last season, it could well be the spark to reignite his career, to the Toffees’ benefit at least in the short-term.
Well, there’s only a week to go now until that transfer window opens so as always these relentless rumours and stories will continue as the days count down.