Paul Merson has warned Dele Alli that his ‘career is going to pass him by’, as he continues to struggle at Everton after leaving Tottenham.
It was pointed out by Merson that Alli was once ‘one of the best young players’ in the game and his name was being touted alongside the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Those days are long gone for the 26-year-old, who is now struggling to get into a relegation-threatened Everton side.
Even last week at West Ham, with Donny van de Beek pulling up with an injury in the warm-up, no Tom Davies in the squad and Allan suspended.
Frank Lampard opted to start a defender in Mason Holgate in the middle of the park, instead of handing the keys to Alli, who hasn’t even come off the bench during Everton’s last four matches.
This was the advice Merson sent to the 37-cap England player, whose career is heading only one way, at this moment in time, as he told Sky Sports News (09/04/22 at 12:30 pm).
“I don’t know what’s happened,” said Merson. “The only person who can answer that is the lad himself. He had a great opportunity to move to another great club. He was at Tottenham, now he’s at a great club in Everton.
“This kid’s career is going to pass him by. It doesn’t matter how much money you earn in the game. After you finished, that’s it. And he needs to start playing football.
“He will sit there at 33 and 34. He will look at it and go ‘Oh my God, I had the best opportunity in the world’. He is playing in the best league in the world. He has to start working again. This is a short career.
“We are talking four or five years ago? He was one of the best young kids in the world. We are talking about Barcelona and Real Madrid. Dele Alli was the next Frank Lampard.
“He would make runs from midfield. He was a good finisher. He was clever and bright. I just don’t see that player anymore – he has to turn up. He hasn’t done anything and he needs to get going.”
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Everton parted ways with Alli in the summer, which would be yet another slap in the face for the attack-minded midfielder.
At this moment in time, he can call himself a Premier League footballer.
But, it’s his reputation that has allowed him to stay at this level rather than performances because it has been years since he produced the goods on a consistent basis.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is coming up later this year and to think Alli was a key member of the 2018 side just goes to show his fall from grace.
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