Frank Lampard has warned Dele Alli to step up his efforts in training after letting the midfielder move to Besiktas on loan.
Dele signed for Everton in January from Tottenham Hotspur, but he completed a temporary switch to Turkey on Friday. His seven months at Goodison Park saw him make just one start, playing 13 times.
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The 26-year-old was a member of England’s World Cup squad just four years ago and was previously named PFA Young Player of the Year twice but has seen his form dip perilously in recent years.
And now Everton manager Lampard has made it clear where Dele needs to improve.
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He said: “I do have great empathy for the trajectory of his career in a sense because it is clear to see. I don’t have to dress that up in any way.
“Having worked closely with him for a period I have to say he really does need to understand the relation of training and focus to what that means to performance at the highest level.
“It’s not just the Dele story, I would say that to any player because it’s the only thing I know. I wasn’t a saint, but I know what training can do and focus can do, and that’s something he really has to take on board.
“If he can, it can be not just a great thing for him but for the teammates around him in the squad. He’s at that point. That is the test for him now.”
Besiktas have options to sign Dele permanently, but he will have a year left on his Everton contract if they do not make that move.
And Lampard thinks a step up in training is important if Dele wants to make it at the “top end” of the game.
He continued: “He has to do it. Every player has to do it. This sport is too elite at the top end. If you want to be in that bracket, or be influential at a club like Everton or Tottenham, or anywhere. It is just too elite.
“Every player has to have a version of what is best for them and what gets the most out of them. Not every player will do the amount of training that a certain player does, but the focus has to be there and if you don’t have it, it is really, really tough.”
Everton face Brentford on Saturday.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
