Dele Alli’s frustrating short spell at Everton looks to be coming to an end after the club agreed a deal to loan him to Besiktas with a view to a permanent move.
However, the PA news agency understands the final decision remains with the player, who has started just once in 13 appearances since a last-minute move from Tottenham in January.
The 26-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year contract on deadline day but has failed to reignite his career at Goodison Park in a struggling side which only just avoided relegation in their penultimate match of last season.
As part of the structured nature of the deal with Spurs for Alli, Everton, who had to sell Richarlison to Tottenham for £60million in the summer to offset Premier League profit and sustainability concerns, agreed to pay £10m once he had featured in 20 games.
However, with the former England international unlikely to reach that number the club will be liable for a much lower fee.
One player the club remain insistent is not for sale is academy graduate Anthony Gordon, for whom they have already turned down two bids of £40m and £45m from Chelsea.
Manager Frank Lampard is understood to be a big admirer of the 21-year-old and does not want to part with him even though the Stamford Bridge club are expected to return with an improved offer.
Lampard is closing in on his fifth summer signing with the return of midfielder Idrissa Gueye almost complete.
The Senegal international, who turns 33 next month, is surplus to requirements at Paris St Germain but negotiations to bring him back to Goodison Park after his departure in 2019 have dragged on for some time.
It’s scary to think that somebody with so much talent career could end up like this at the age of 26
@Niall Brady: It’s a shame, the guy has so much talent. Everton got him out of the club before the first portion of any transfer fee kicked in after 20 appearances. Tells it all that Levy agreed to such conditions.
@Niall Brady: attitude problem. Doesnt care
The sky was the limit in his early days. What went wrong?? Is it just lack of motivation being a multi millionaire at that age or lack of confidence. Mourinho did him no favours but at the same time he didn’t owe him any as the player obviously wasn’t putting in the effort!
@Barry Evans: Timing-wise his downfall seems to have begun with his Covid-themed airport Tweet in early 2020…..
Madness to think of how good he was at a younger age, hard to think of a similar drop-off in form. Predict he’ll be out of Istanbul in a year for another downward move sadly
@Barry Evans: don’t mind Mourinho, it’s that old saying you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.