With the manager search ongoing it will be interesting to see if Everton have any players in mind with the transfer window closing in less than a week’s time. One possible move that could be done is a loan deal with Spurs, but which player out of Tanguy Ndombele or Dele Alli would suit them best?
Since the start of the month it has seemed that Alli has been available to go out on loan and was left out of the Spurs squad altogether against Chelsea on Sunday, he could go on a permanent deal if anyone put up a decent offer but that is unlikely. Now it also is apparent that his Spurs teammate Ndombele is available too after falling out of favour with Spurs manager Antonio Conte.
Ndombele today has been heavily linked with a loan move to Goodison Park, despite Everton not even having a first team manager in situ at the moment. While Alli has always been linked to Everton with creativity from midfield a major issue this season.
In the current state of this Everton squad would Ndombele or Alli be a better fit at this current time?
Does Everton need Dele Alli or Tanguy Ndombele?
Once again the state of play with the manager could change all of this, but I don’t think it would change who I would take in this transfer window.
Ndombele offers you unpredictability, technical creativity and the opposition really not knowing what he is going to do next. Like with Everton, Spurs have chopped and changed managers over the last few years and this has harmed Ndombele’s development, at 25 years old he still has his peak years ahead of him, especially with the type of player he is.
The goal Ndombele scored at Sheffield United last season was an incredible piece of skill and one example of his ability. He can change direction in an instant with the ball and can use both feet, plus he can tackle. Everton’s central midfield lacks a player who can turn defence into attack with the ball at their feet, also the finishing ability of Ndombele is better than anyone currently at Goodison Park.
Ndombele’s weaknesses are his inconsistent performances, probably why Conte has not taken a shine to the record signing who was bought for £55.5m plus add-ons. Also his confidence and demeanour seems to fall off very easily, and this Everton squad does not have much confidence to give back at the moment. Despite this, he has also been heavily linked with a move to PSG on loan also.
Alli has had quite a fall in footballing grace since being one of the stars of the England World Cup campaign back in Russia in 2018. Once again you can look at the change of managers, particularly Mauricio Pochettino’s departure really seemed to affect Alli who certainly did not take to Jose Mourinho’s tough man management style.
Alli offers something slightly different to Ndombele in that he can operate as a number ten or as a wide forward option in a 4-3-3 formation. Everton severely lack a number ten option and although Alli has hardly played for the last year he still has ability that the right manager can exert again.
The question is who will Everton have has their manager to help Alli, if it is Frank Lampard, who is one of the favourites to take over now, this could revitalise Alli into some form seen before the last World Cup.
Alli can offer a link between Everton’s midfield and attack which has been severely lacking, and also makes runs in the penalty area late which opposition defenders struggle to pick up. With no options like this at present in the Everton squad I would side with Alli over Ndombele for a loan move. Also Alli will find it easier to fit into the Everton dressing room for such a short term temporary move.
If Alli did do extremely well there is a chance Everton could put in a permanent offer for him to Spurs, whereas Ndombele would be too expensive for a permanent transfer.
While we wait to see who Farhad Moshiri and the Everton board will pick for the manager role, there has to be a plan to pick up an extra player or two before the transfer window closes next Monday night, Alli fits in no matter who that manager choice is.
Is Dele Alli a better option than Tanguy Ndombele?