Martin Samuel has suggested that Everton may need to get Dele Alli in contact with former England team psychologist Pippa Grange to get the best of him.
The Toffees midfielder has struggled to live up to his past reputation since his move from Tottenham in the 2022 January window, and after an eventful loan move to Besiktas over the past season is back at Goodison Park this summer.
Referring to a new play by James Graham that depicts the Gareth Southgate-era Three Lions side, in which Dele’s connection to Grange is highlighted, Samuel has mooted a reconnection between the two in order to provide mutual boosts to both player and team.
Writing in his column for The Times Samuel says: “At the time Dele was in his short-lived prime as an international footballer, he could not have spoken more highly of Grange’s influence. “She’s an amazing person,” he said in the build-up to England’s World Cup semi-final with Croatia. “Everyone listens when she talks.” And Grange is not employed by the FA any more.
“Neither is Dele, for that matter. Yet she is still a psychologist, through her company, Bluestone Edge, with clients including United States Ski & Snowboard, Cricket Australia and New Zealand Rugby League. Everton need a player of Dele’s ability; Dele needs a way forward. Graham’s play is fiction, but Dele’s belief in Grange was not. Might it benefit Everton to put them in a room together again?”
No stone unturned
Unless Everton are planning to cut ties with the former international star this summer then it is in their interest to investigate all avenues towards helping him be a productive contributor next term.
Even if they don’t envisage a future for him at Goodison Park there seems little harm in broaching the subject just for his benefit, so it is perhaps a link up that could yet happen.
Having major expectations of the 27-year-old getting back to his Tottenham best under Sean Dyche would probably be counter-productive currently when there is so much constant focus on him, much of which is needlessly negative.
But if he values Grange’s input as a psychologist then it could be dealt with behind the scenes and may help him going forward.
Midfield is one area that is fairly crowded currently at Goodison Park, but there is not a huge amount of creativity in central attacking areas outside of Abdoulaye Doucouré and possibly Alex Iwobi.
If Everton had Dele Alli at even two thirds of his best he would likely be a more valuable addition to Dyche’s options than most of the available deals in the transfer market.
However, the £10million fee [Liverpool Echo, 3 April] due Spurs after 20 Toffees appearances – has made 13 so far – might make any reintegration into the senior side not viable for another year, but for his and the club’s long-term benefit perhaps the Grange idea could work.