After making just 25 Premier League appearances since the start of the 2020-21 season, Dele Alli has ended his difficult spell at Tottenham after seven years at the club.
The midfielder completed a deadline day move to Everton on Monday, signing for Frank Lampard in an attempt to kickstart his career which once held so much promise.
Injuries have played a part in hampering the 25-year-old’s progress but under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and now Antonio Conte, Alli’s career faltered as he failed to cement a starting spot in the Spurs side.
And Arsenal legend and TV pundit Ian Wright believes that the emergence of current Spurs player Heung-Min Son played a huge part in Alli’s decline.
Wright told Premier League Productions, via HITC, that Son became a better number 10 than his teammate and barely gave him the chance to regain his spot in the starting XI.
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He said: “We saw Dele’s rise. Then it kind of went stagnant for him. The problem Dele has is that, with the emergence of Son, who plays as that second striker. It kind of negates Dele.
“He’s not a ten. He’s not an out-and-out striker and he is in that place where Son has now taken and made his own.
“If we are going to be totally honest, he is better in that position. Dele has been trying to find his way back, in whatever system and whatever manager he has been under.
“But it’s not worked out. He maybe needs a move like this and under a manager like Frank.”
Alli quickly became one of Tottenham’s star players in his first few seasons at the club following his switch from MK Dons in 2015, making 146 appearances and scoring 46 goals in his first three campaigns.
But following Son’s change of position to playing behind the striker in recent times, despite being primarily used out wide in north London beforehand, Alli has struggled to reclaim his place following the scintillating form of the South Korean.
With injuries adding to his absence from the starting lineup, it gave Alli a mountain to climb in order to reach the levels of his teammate.
Son continues to impress for Spurs but now Alli has the chance to shine at Goodison Park, in a move that was influenced by the opportunity to work with the former Chelsea manager.
Lampard is a big fan of the England international, who hasn’t played for his country since 2019, and Alli feels working with the legendary midfielder can help him flourish.
“I can learn so much from him,” he said of Lampard. “I will speak to him about that and the way he fought on the pitch and what he did to make the most of his talent.
“I am very ambitious and passionate, so feeling that from the manager drives you on to want to do well for not only them but the whole club.
“Especially as an attacking and creative player, you want to know you can express yourself and bring excitement to the game, with and without the ball.
“That’s what I want to do and the kind of player I am.”
